Hundreds of thousands of Americans turned out yesterday in nationwide protests designed to spur action on gun reforms. The March for Our Lives was led in Washington by student survivors of the Parkland, Florida mass shooting. Their message was unambiguous.
“Welcome to the revolution,” said Cameron Kasky. One the most visible of the Parkland students, Kasky urged young people to use their voices to “create a better world for generations to come.”
“Politicians, either represent the people or get out. Stand for us or beware: The voters are coming,” Kasky said. “We must stand beside those we’ve lost and fix the world that betrayed them. … We the people can fix this. For the first time in a long while, I look forward and see hope.”
In a Guardian editorial, student journalist Rebecca Schneid wrote "We are exhausted but we feel empowered, too."
Approximately 800 organized marches were planned. Among the marchers were Sandy Hook survivors, Columbine survivors, and other victims of American gun violence; over 187,000 Americans have now experienced gun violence in their own school in the last two decades.
Nationwide efforts also included voter registration drives. One of the main messages of the rally: We are coming for politicians that block meaningful gun reform efforts. The newest generation of voters isn’t putting up with it any longer.