Stand for us or get out — Student leaders
‘Never Again’ – More than 1 million Americans flood the streets for student-led gun protest marches
WASHINGTON: More than a million Americans f looded the streets of cities nationwide for emotional protests demanding tighter gun control on Saturday, marches spearheaded by teenagers from a Florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month.
“Politicians, either represent the people or get out,” Cameron Kasky, a 17-year-old from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, told the crowd at a huge rally in Washington.
“Stand for us or beware – the voters are coming,” said Kasky, one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the Feb 14 shooting at his school.
Large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Seattle and other cities – more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the “March For Our Lives.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio said 175,000 people took part at the New York rally, tweeting: “These students WILL change America.”
But the largest protest was in Washington, where organizers told NBC News the crowd was estimated at more than 800,000 people, the largest gun control rally in the United States since the Million Mom March in 2000.
The main stage for the event in Washington was set up near the US Capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws.
“The people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons,” Kasky said. “The people demand we prohibit the sale of high- capacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks.”
March organizers included a link for people to register to vote on their MarchForOurLives.com website as they seek to transform
The people demand we prohibit the sale of highcapacity magazines. The people demand universal background checks. Cameron Kasky, 17-year-old student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
their nascent movement into a potent political force.
Signs carried by protesters lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the National Rif le Association ( NRA), the powerful US gun lobby.
“These kids are right,” said Jeff Turchin, a 68-year- old retired garment manufacturer who came to Washington from New York to attend the rally.
“They’re basically saying the NRA is paying off these Republicans,” Turchin said of the party of President Donald Trump, which also controls Congress.
The Washington rally kicked off with Andra Day singing “Rise Up” and also featured a performances by Jennifer Hudson, whose mother, brother and seven-year- old nephew were shot dead in 2008.
But the most riveting appearances were by the Stoneman Douglas students.
Emma Gonzalez, 17, took the stage wearing a green militarystyle jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year- old gunman Nikolas Cruz.
Tears rolling down her face, she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out “We’re with you Emma.”
“Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds,” Gonzalez finally said – the exact amount of time Cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing.
“Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job,” Gonzalez said. “Get out there and vote.”
In New York, former Beatle Paul McCartney showed up at a march and spoke of the December 1980 murder of his bandmate John Lennon.
“Every week you hear about a new shooting and nothing is done about it,” McCartney told AFP. “But I think maybe after this something will be done about it.”
Thousands meanwhile gathered in Parkland to pay tribute to those slain in the city on Valentine’s Day.
The protesters met at Parkland’s Pine Trails Park, the same place where a somber vigil was held in the wake of the February 14 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Trump was in Florida as marchers gathered in Washington but the White House issued a statement. “We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today,” it said.
“Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President’s.”