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| Huge crowds in Washington and beyond as calls ring out to end gun violence | Huge crowds in Washington and beyond as calls ring out to end gun violence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of students have joined anti-gun March for Our Lives rallies across the US in one of the largest expressions of popular opposition in the modern era. | Hundreds of thousands of students have joined anti-gun March for Our Lives rallies across the US in one of the largest expressions of popular opposition in the modern era. |
| At dawn in Washington, a queue of buses from around the US – Ohio, Virginia, Connecticut, Vermont – congregated as students poured from the doors and spilled into the thousands already marching on the streets. | At dawn in Washington, a queue of buses from around the US – Ohio, Virginia, Connecticut, Vermont – congregated as students poured from the doors and spilled into the thousands already marching on the streets. |
| Their chants cut through the cold and echoed along Pennsylvania Avenue. “This is what democracy looks like,” was the rallying call from the throngs of these young, diverse, and impassioned marchers, standing behind a movement born out of violence and tragedy. | Their chants cut through the cold and echoed along Pennsylvania Avenue. “This is what democracy looks like,” was the rallying call from the throngs of these young, diverse, and impassioned marchers, standing behind a movement born out of violence and tragedy. |
| “We call BS,” they said in unison – reviving the speech made by 18-year-old Emma Gonzalez that demanded sweeping reform of America’s gun laws in the hours after 17 of her teachers and fellow students were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida last month. | “We call BS,” they said in unison – reviving the speech made by 18-year-old Emma Gonzalez that demanded sweeping reform of America’s gun laws in the hours after 17 of her teachers and fellow students were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Florida last month. |
| In the five weeks since the shooting, the Parkland students have galvanised a national movement, breathing new life into the call for gun law reform and rejecting the conservative orthodoxy of the powerful gun rights lobby spearheaded by the NRA. | In the five weeks since the shooting, the Parkland students have galvanised a national movement, breathing new life into the call for gun law reform and rejecting the conservative orthodoxy of the powerful gun rights lobby spearheaded by the NRA. |
| They have already successfully lobbied for substantial reform in Florida after decades of inaction, and led thousands of students in school walkouts around the US earlier this month. | They have already successfully lobbied for substantial reform in Florida after decades of inaction, and led thousands of students in school walkouts around the US earlier this month. |
| Organizers expected Saturday’s rally in Washington to draw half a million people – a crowd comparable to the Women’s March in January last year and the anti-Vietnam war protests of the 1960s. Rallies were taking place at over 800 locations around world, including London, Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai and other parts of the US. | Organizers expected Saturday’s rally in Washington to draw half a million people – a crowd comparable to the Women’s March in January last year and the anti-Vietnam war protests of the 1960s. Rallies were taking place at over 800 locations around world, including London, Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai and other parts of the US. |
| Veteran civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis said the protests reminded him of the early days of the civil rights era. “I think it’s amazing,” Lewis said in an interview with The Associated Press. “They will be the leaders of the 21st century.” | |
| In one of the first speeches, Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior Delaney Tarr told the crowd of the students’ demands, including background checks and a ban on assault weapons. | In one of the first speeches, Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior Delaney Tarr told the crowd of the students’ demands, including background checks and a ban on assault weapons. |
| “When you give us an inch, that bump stocks ban, we will take a mile,” she said. “We are not here for breadcrumbs, we are here to lead.” | “When you give us an inch, that bump stocks ban, we will take a mile,” she said. “We are not here for breadcrumbs, we are here to lead.” |
| Earlier, the Guardian spoke to Cassie Pearce, 17, who had ridden in her school bus for 10 hours from Manchester, Vermont with dozens of her classmates. Clutching a sign that said “I should be writing my college essay, not my will” Pearce said: “I’m here because enough is enough. We have a right to be heard. We don’t want to be killed in school.” | Earlier, the Guardian spoke to Cassie Pearce, 17, who had ridden in her school bus for 10 hours from Manchester, Vermont with dozens of her classmates. Clutching a sign that said “I should be writing my college essay, not my will” Pearce said: “I’m here because enough is enough. We have a right to be heard. We don’t want to be killed in school.” |
| Sophia Hiltz and Alanis Moulier, both 16, had not travelled as far, but just a day ago their close friend Jaelynn Willey, had died in gun violence at another American high school – Great Mills high school in Maryland. Willey was killed by a student who brought a handgun on campus and opened fire. It was at least the 33rd time a gun was fired at an American school this year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. | Sophia Hiltz and Alanis Moulier, both 16, had not travelled as far, but just a day ago their close friend Jaelynn Willey, had died in gun violence at another American high school – Great Mills high school in Maryland. Willey was killed by a student who brought a handgun on campus and opened fire. It was at least the 33rd time a gun was fired at an American school this year, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. |
| “I saw her fall,” said Moulier. “It shows it can happen to anyone, anywhere. It just happens.” | “I saw her fall,” said Moulier. “It shows it can happen to anyone, anywhere. It just happens.” |
| Hundreds of students from Great Mills marched together, wearing green and carrying signs with Jaelynn’s name and face. | Hundreds of students from Great Mills marched together, wearing green and carrying signs with Jaelynn’s name and face. |
| Donald Trump, who left Washington on Friday evening to spend the weekend at his luxury members club, Mar-a-Lago, in south Florida, signed a budget less than 24 hours before that contained no substantial clauses on gun control. In a meeting with lawmakers in the aftermath of Parkland, the president had signalled support for stronger background checks on gun purchases and raising the minimum age for buying high-powered rifles. | Donald Trump, who left Washington on Friday evening to spend the weekend at his luxury members club, Mar-a-Lago, in south Florida, signed a budget less than 24 hours before that contained no substantial clauses on gun control. In a meeting with lawmakers in the aftermath of Parkland, the president had signalled support for stronger background checks on gun purchases and raising the minimum age for buying high-powered rifles. |
| But the NRA staunchly opposed these measures and Trump appears to have abandoned the proposals. | But the NRA staunchly opposed these measures and Trump appears to have abandoned the proposals. |
| On Saturday morning, shortly before the speakers – all of whom were expected to be teenagers – took the stage in Washington, the White House issued a statement applauding “the many courageous young Americans exercising their first amendment rights”. | On Saturday morning, shortly before the speakers – all of whom were expected to be teenagers – took the stage in Washington, the White House issued a statement applauding “the many courageous young Americans exercising their first amendment rights”. |
| The administration also drew attention to minor reforms the president has called for, including a move by the justice department on Friday to ban bump stocks, the accessory that allows rifles to mimic the rapid fire of automatic weapons. | The administration also drew attention to minor reforms the president has called for, including a move by the justice department on Friday to ban bump stocks, the accessory that allows rifles to mimic the rapid fire of automatic weapons. |
| A group of student journalists from the Stoneman Douglas newspaper, the Eagle Eye, were invited to guest-edit the Guardian’s US website this weekend. Eleven students covered the rally in Washington, interviewing other survivors of gun violence from Stoneman Douglas and elsewhere. | A group of student journalists from the Stoneman Douglas newspaper, the Eagle Eye, were invited to guest-edit the Guardian’s US website this weekend. Eleven students covered the rally in Washington, interviewing other survivors of gun violence from Stoneman Douglas and elsewhere. |
| Parkland student Jordan Khayyami, 15, said: “I think that legislatures should be aware that the next generation of voters is right in front of them so if they don’t want to promote change then we will vote for change.” | Parkland student Jordan Khayyami, 15, said: “I think that legislatures should be aware that the next generation of voters is right in front of them so if they don’t want to promote change then we will vote for change.” |
| Robert Runcie, the Broward County schools superintendent who administers the district Stoneman Douglas is part of, said: “Stoneman Douglas students have driven and impacted a dawn of a national movement. I think this generation may prove to be the greatest generation.” | Robert Runcie, the Broward County schools superintendent who administers the district Stoneman Douglas is part of, said: “Stoneman Douglas students have driven and impacted a dawn of a national movement. I think this generation may prove to be the greatest generation.” |
| The scenes of thousands of students on the streets was overwhelming to many of the victims of gun violence who attended the Washington rally. | The scenes of thousands of students on the streets was overwhelming to many of the victims of gun violence who attended the Washington rally. |
| “I did not expect this. I’m still astounded,” said Mark Barden, whose seven-year-old son Daniel was one of the 20 children murdered at Sandy Hook in 2012. “To me, it looks like our entire nation is finally on board, on the right side of this issue. It’s so inspiring and encouraging and overwhelming, and beautiful to me.” | “I did not expect this. I’m still astounded,” said Mark Barden, whose seven-year-old son Daniel was one of the 20 children murdered at Sandy Hook in 2012. “To me, it looks like our entire nation is finally on board, on the right side of this issue. It’s so inspiring and encouraging and overwhelming, and beautiful to me.” |
| Barden has spent five years pushing for stricter gun control laws, first with the support of Barack Obama’s White House, then continuing when gun control again dropped off the national agenda. | Barden has spent five years pushing for stricter gun control laws, first with the support of Barack Obama’s White House, then continuing when gun control again dropped off the national agenda. |
| Thousands expected at Parkland, Forida | Thousands expected at Parkland, Forida |
| While classmates are rallying in Washington, thousands more Stoneman Douglas survivors, their families and supporters are among tens of thousands gathering in Parkland this morning to march to the scene of last month’s shooting. | While classmates are rallying in Washington, thousands more Stoneman Douglas survivors, their families and supporters are among tens of thousands gathering in Parkland this morning to march to the scene of last month’s shooting. |
| Officials have predicted that anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 people will listen to the speeches from the amphitheatre at Pine Trails Park before walking the mile south to Stoneman Douglas high school. | Officials have predicted that anywhere between 20,000 and 40,000 people will listen to the speeches from the amphitheatre at Pine Trails Park before walking the mile south to Stoneman Douglas high school. |
| “Parkland is a family. And when our family is hurting, we all come together,” said Liam Kiernan, a 15-year-old MSD 10th grader. “We become stronger because we feel we’re all one person.” | “Parkland is a family. And when our family is hurting, we all come together,” said Liam Kiernan, a 15-year-old MSD 10th grader. “We become stronger because we feel we’re all one person.” |
| Additional reporting by staff of the Eagle Eye | Additional reporting by staff of the Eagle Eye |
| March for Our Lives | March for Our Lives |
| Break the cycle | Break the cycle |
| US gun control | US gun control |
| US politics | US politics |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| Washington DC | Washington DC |
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