In the wake of the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, public outcry for gun control reform in America has encompassed nearly every media platform and much of our conversations. While many rallies and demonstrations have been arranged by various advocates for reform, they each culminated in the March for Our Lives this past Saturday, March 24, 2018. The student-lead protest was held primarily within Washington D.C. with more than 800 sibling events across the nation. Being the largest student protest in U.S. history, roughly 2 million participants took the streets demanding a variety of requests in an effort to increase government regulation of gun purchasing and ownership.
An event of such sizable impact was surely comprised of endless important moments. Here are some of the key moments to recognize from the march:
1. Emma González’ Emotional Moment of Silence
One of the most prominent survivors and student activists, Emma González, a senior from the affected school in Parkland, Florida, spoke before the sea of demonstrators in D.C. for about 2 minutes prior to remaining silent for 4 minutes and 26 seconds. In this effort, she emphasized the six short minutes in which the shooter took the lives of her 17 classmates, which will leave an impact on her community and our country forever. González, speaking with passion and conviction, concluded saying, “Fight for your lives, before it’s someone else’s job.”
2. Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato Reunite and Perform
Following earlier Instagram posts of lyrics, Miley Cyrus took the stage in D.C. to perform her fan favorite song “The Climb”. Pop Songstress, Demi Lovato, also gave an equally inspiring performance of her song “Skyscraper”. Cyrus later shared a picture of the two former Disney stars captioned “Been friends forever & happy to stand with you on important days like this!”
3. Naomi Wadler Pleads for Reform
11-year-old Naomi Wadler from Virginia spoke with wisdom beyond her years at the march. On March 14, Wadler arranged for a student walk out at her elementary school, lasting 18 minutes in an effort to honor the 17 victims of Parkland as well as Courtlin Arrington of Alabama. She spoke of Arrington as well as multiple other African-American women who have fell victim to gun-violence and have not seemed to receive the acknowledgment they deserve. Despite being told she is too young, Wadler has persisted in her efforts to encourage awareness and gun-control reform.
4. MLK’s Granddaughter’s Dream
Yolanda Renee King, 9-year-old granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., also spoke at the rally in D.C. with poise and confidence. Reminding the crowds of people of the dream her grandfather once declared, she shared a dream of her own: a gun-free world. She concluded having the crowd repeat the following statement three times, “Spread the word. Have you heard? All across the nation. We are going to be a great generation.”
5. Celebrities Shared Encouragement
Endless celebrities showcased their support for the movement in a variety of ways. While George Clooney, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, and others joined in on the march themselves, many who were not able to attend still found their way to encourage those who were. Many took to social media, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Brie Larson. Millie Bobby Brown made a statement on the orange carpet of the Kid’s Choice Awards that evening, wearing a denim shirt embroidered with the names of the 17 victims of the Parkland shooting. Oprah Winfrey, as well as George Clooney, also donated $500,000 each to the March for Our Lives.