By Haya Wakil
March for our Lives was a student-led protest against gun violence that took place in Washington DC on the 23rd of March, 2018. Simultaneously, around 800 similar events took place in different parts of the United States and around the world. The march was organised in collaboration with the NGO EveTownown for Gun Safety. In the lead were the survivors of last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida in which17 people, including students and teachers, were killed.
After the, attack thousands of students and teachers began the ‘National School Walkout’ campaign to raise awareness about the security of students in the far of rampant gun violence. It took place on March 14 and commemorated the one month anniversary of the mass shooting. The march was organised by the Women’s March Youth Empower and lasted for 17 minutes to commemorate the 17 victims. Their aim was to make Congress pass gun control legislation.
The march is being led by a group called #Never Again. The phrase #NeverAgain was revived during the demonstration and became the motto of the march. The aim of the demonstration is to prevent any student, teacher or citizens from becoming a victim to gun violence. Their demand is that Congress quickly pass a comprehensive bill in order to save lives.
Demands of the student activists
According to the petition on the event’s website (https://marchforourlivespetition.com/ ):
“Our elected officials MUST ACT by:
- Passing a law to ban the sale of assault weapons like the ones used in Las Vegas, Orlando, Sutherland Springs, Aurora, Sandy Hook and, most recently, to kill 17 innocent people and injure more than a dozen others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. (sic)
No civilian should be able to access these weapons of war, which should be restricted for use by our military and law enforcement only. These guns have no other purpose than to fire as many bullets as possible and indiscriminately kill anything they are pointed at with terrifying speed.
- Prohibiting the sale of high-capacity magazines such as the ones the shooter at our school—and so many other recent mass shootings used.
States that ban high-capacity magazines have half as many shootings involving three or more victims as states that allow them.
Limiting the number of bullets a gun can discharge at one time will at least force any shooter to stop and reload, giving children a chance to escape.
- Closing the loophole in our background check law that allows dangerous people who shouldn’t be allowed to purchase firearms to slip through the cracks and buy guns online or at gun shows.
22 percent of gun sales in this country take place without a background check. That’s millions of guns that could be falling into dangerous hands.
A background check should be required on every gun sale, no exceptions.”
Widespread support and funding
These teenage activists have attracted millions of supporters from all over the world, including celebrities and famous personalities who have extended their support. Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities, like Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Lin- Mauel Miranda, Ben Platt, Nick Offerman, Vic Mensa, Lady Gaga, Jimmy Fallon, Paul McCartney and several others, have supported the movement. The support was shown either through participation in the marches or through the medium of social media or by wearing merchandise that carries quotes like “Be Kind”, “Disarm hate”, “We can end gun violence”, etc. Donations were also raised in support of the march from personalities like Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Steven Spielberg and even Gucci.
It has been estimated that around 200,000 people attended the march, which makes it one of the largest protests in US history. It was also decided that half of the money raised will go into organising the march and half of it will go to the families of the shooting victims.
The National Rifle Association has responded negatively. They tried to discredit the march altogether by saying that the students have been brainwashed by billionaires who want to remove the Second Amendment that gives Americans a right to protect themselves with weapons. They even posted a video on their official Facebook page explaining how the amendment is actually saving lives and invites people to join the organisation. Unfortunately, the NRA has a powerful influence over Congress, which is why gun control measures have not yet been passed.
In a statement, White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters said: “We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today. Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President’s, which is why he urged Congress to pass the Fix NICS and STOP School Violence Acts, and signed them into law. Additionally, on Friday, the Department of Justice issued the rule to ban bump stocks following through on the President’s commitment to ban devices that turn legal weapons into illegal machine guns.”
The demonstration was a reminder to the members of Congress to take serious note of the demands as they are not going to be easily sidelined. Student activists from across the states have shown their sense of responsibility and now want their voice heard.
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