Campaign Action
The planned student march in D.C. on March 24 has hit a snag. After attracting funding from celebrities to cover the expenses, the students thought it was a “go.” Unfortunately, the National Park Service just denied their permit. From the Washington Post:
A planned rally against mass shootings can’t be held on the Mall later this month because it conflicts with what’s described in a National Park Service permit application as a “talent show.”
A permit application filed last week by survivors of the Parkland, Fla., school massacre indicated the “March For Our Lives” rally will be on March 24, with up to 500,000 attendees expected. Mike Litterst, a spokesman for the Park Service, said organizers proposed holding the event on the Mall but were looking to move the rally to another location after the request conflicted with a film crew’s permit.
Litterst said the film permit was “from a student group at a local educational institution,” but he wouldn’t name the institution because “applications from educational institutions are withheld from release for privacy reasons,” he wrote in an email.
The nation’s youth have mobilized in a historic way and the rally is being denied in favor of a talent show? Officials redacted the applicant’s name and school, providing little information about the approved group. Here’s how the applications compared:
The “March For Our Lives” rally, funded in part by Oprah Winfrey and other celebrities, will include “student speakers, musical performers, guest speakers and video tributes,” according to the permit application, with 14 Jumbotrons, 2,000 chairs and 2,000 portable restrooms. The film crew’s plans for the Mall were more modest, listing equipment such as two tables, two bikes and jump ropes.
Wake up, National Park Service. LET. THE. KIDS. MARCH.