US students have begun leaving classes in protest over gun violence and to honour shooting victims.

Demonstrations from Washington to Florida and Michigan have drawn hundreds of students as part of the latest effort by youth activists pressing for gun control.

More than 2,700 protests were planned across the country on Friday – the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.

Dozens of Washington-area students gathered near the White House for a moment of silence before reading the names of the Columbine victims.

Organisers encouraged students to leave class at 10am local time and gather in honour of shooting victims. Many have also planned rallies calling for tougher gun laws.

Plans for the walkout were started by a Connecticut teen hours after the February 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida.