The March for Our Lives made history on Saturday March 24th. It is reported by CNN among other major news outlets that over 800 events spread all over not only the United States, but the world. The student survivors of Parkland were at the forefront of the march. #NeverAgain is the name of the student created group responsible for organizing this particular demonstration at the Capitol in DC and further advocating for gun control. This march came following National School Walkout Day which took place on March 14th.
The victims of the shooting on February 14th at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were honored at the March for Our Lives: Alyssa Alhadeff, Scott Beigel, Martin Duque Anguiano, Nicholas Dworet, Aaron Feis, Jaime Guttenberg, Chris Hixon, Luke Hoyer, Cara Loughran, Gina Montalto, Joaquin Oliver, Alaina Petty, Meadow Pollack, Helena Ramsay, Alex Schachter, Carmen Schentrup, and Peter Wang.
The March for Our Lives cause has issued three demands:
1. Pass a law to ban the assault weapons frequently used to carry out mass shootings
2. Stop the sale of high-capacity magazines, restricting the amount of ammunition
3. Close loopholes in Amerca’s background checks on every gun purpose, including those that occur online or at gun shows.
Naomi Wadler gave a particularly articulate, powerful speech. Wadler said her purpose there at the march was to represent African-American girls whose lives have been lost to gun violence, yet who have become statistics. At 11 years old, she stood in front of the crowd of millions of people in front of the Capital. Her words moved many in the crowd to tears. In her own words: “I am here to acknowledge their stories, to say they mater, to say their names, because I can, and I was asked to be.”
The collection voices of young people speaking out against gun violence has been loud and forceful.
Emma Gonzalez reminded the crowd in her speech that it took 6 minutes and 20 seconds for the shooter to execute her fellow classmates.
David Hogg remarked: “you can hear the people in power shaking.”
Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., reminded the audience of her grandfather’s message. “I have a dream that enough is enough,” she said.
National Rifle Association members and protestors against gun violence continue to clash. The NRA’s response included a Facebook post claiming the March was organized by “gun-hating billionaires and Hollywood elites … manipulating and exploiting children as part of their plan to DESTROY the Second Amendment and strip us of our right to defend ourselves and our loved ones.”
Sir Paul McCartney reported to CNN he was marching in support given his loss of John Lennon to gun violence in 1980. “This is what we can do, so I’m here to do it.”
Mic reports that a survey conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords showed gun violence prevention to be the #1 issue for young people voting in 2018 midterm elections.
Information obtained from:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43529469
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/24/us/march-for-our-lives-wrap/index.html
https://mic.com/articles/188546/americas-mass-shooting-generation-is-mob…
Images obtained from:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2018/03/24/thousands-gather-at-march-…
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/23/us/free-lyft-ride-for-march-for-our-lives…
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-saturday-walkouts-liveupda…
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/parkland/florida-school-shooti…