On Saturday March 24, 2018, thousands of young people descended upon the nation’s capital in order for their voices to be heard. The recent school shootings in places such as Parkland, Florida as well as in Great Mills, Maryland, re-introduced the debate of gun laws in America. Here are a few facts to know about this historical event.
- Students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida were the brains behind the march and had been planning it since February.
- The actual march began at noon and took place between 3rd and 12th street in Washington, D.C.
- In addition to the march in Washington, D.C, there were sister marches that took place in places such as Vermont, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina.
- People were also protesting against arming teachers with weapons. In fact, one teacher told ABC news, “I want to teach kids. I don’t want to be armed…. Arm me with my books.”
- Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s granddaughter, Yolanda Renee King, spoke during the march in Washington D.C.
- It was a very star-studded event!
Lastly, although this was a star-studded event, young people like me took center stage by speaking out about gun control. One survivor of the Parkland High School shooting, Delaney Tarr, spoke at the rally and said, “We cannot move on. If we move on, the NRA and those against us will when. They want us to forget…Today and every day we will continue to fight for those things that are right…. we will continue to fight for our dead friends.”