Plays written by high school students about the issue of gun violence were streamed across the country to mark the eighth anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

The monologue “Ghost Gun” was written by West Orange High School senior Olivia Ridley.

“I think throughout the piece you figure out he doesn’t seek violence. He doesn’t want to be violent or aggressive. He just wants to be heard,” Ridley said.

Ridley is one of seven student-playwrights in America whose short plays were selected for the #Enough play readings. The plays were presented by theaters, schools and community groups to mark the anniversary.

“They’re the generation of empathy and equity and justice, and we should be listening to them,” says Chicago-based theater director Michael Cotey.

Cotey came up with the idea for the effort. He says that the hope is that by giving the students’ words a theater platform, it will start a new conversation about gun violence.

Several organizations in New Jersey are presenting their own versions of the plays online. They can also be viewed free on Broadway on Demand.