U.S. STUDENTS IN 50 STATES PROTEST GUN VIOLENCE
They abandon classes to protest against gun violence
STUDENTS in the United States walked out of classrooms on Wednesday in the largest grassroots protest against gun violence seen in years, demanding action one month to the day after a deadly shooting rampage at a Florida high school.
Hundreds of teenagers from schools here gathered outside the White House, holding up signs reading “Books Not Bullets” and “Protect People Not Guns” before marching to the US Capitol.
“We want to show Congress and politicians we are not standing by. We are not silent anymore,” said Brenna Levitan, 17.
“Parkland is going to be the last school shooting.”
Students in dozens of other cities in all 50 states staged similar demonstrations and observed a moment of silence to honour the 14 students and three adult staff killed a month ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
In Washington, DC, several hours after protests broke up, US lawmakers took their first step to address school gun violence since the Parkland shooting.
The House of Representatives voted 407-10 to fund violence prevention measures at schools, including boosting security, mental health screening and creating anonymous reporting systems so that students can report threats.
But Congress has yet to tackle the more controversial aspects of gun control demanded in the wake of the Parkland shooting.
These include expanded background checks for gun sales, a ban on assault weapons and raising the minimum age for firearms purchases.
Students at Stoneman Douglas visited memorials for their dead classmates, hugged and cried.
At a high school in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, students marched to the football field and assembled in a heart formation to pay tribute to the victims.
In Los Angeles and other cities, teenagers spelled out the protest slogan “#ENOUGH” by lying down on sports fields.
Here in the capital, students were joined by Democratic members of Congress at the Capitol.
Speakers denounced the National Rifle Association (NRA), the powerful US gun lobby, and demanded that Congress enact tougher laws on gun ownership.
“You, the young people of this country, are leading the nation,” Senator Bernie Sanders told the crowd. “People are sick and tired of gun violence and the time is now for all of us, together, to stand up to the NRA.”