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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
(about 1 hour 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. Events have been taking place at more than 800 locations around the world – including London, Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US.
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. In Washington, as the number of young, diverse and impassioned protesters swelled along Pennslyvania Avenue, many carried signs reading ‘We are the change’, ‘No more silence’ and ‘Keep NRA money out of politics’.
“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. Organizers said they hoped their protest would be one of the biggest in the capital since the Vietnam era.
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. Along with survivors from the attack in Parkland, Florida, who have been the driving force in a new push for gun reform, speakers included young victims of gun violence from around America.
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 sang, they chanted, and they challenged their parents generation to be effective in eliminating gun violence from society.
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. Edna Chavez, 17, from Manual Arts high school in Los Angeles, took the stage with a raised fist and spoke powerfully about her brother, who was killed by gun violence. “I have learned to duck from bullets before I learned to read.” She led the crowd to chant his name, “Ricardo! Ricardo!”
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.” Trevon Bosley, a high school student from Chicago whose brother was killed, said: “I’m here to speak for those youth who fear they may be shot while going to the gas station, the movies, the bus stop, to church or even to and from school. I’m here to speak for those Chicago youth who feel their voices have been silenced for far too long.”
Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King, told the crowd: “I have a dream that enough is enough. And that this should be a gun-free world, period.”
She then asked the crowd to repeat back her words: “Spread the word, have you heard? All across the nation. We are going to be a great generation.”
She led the chant three times, encouraging the crowd to repeat her words “so the whole world can hear.”
As the students gathered, Donald Trump was whisked by motorcade to his West Palm Beach golf club. Trump later tweeted support for “the victims of the horrible attack in France yesterday” but did not mention the rallies on Twitter.
A White House statement read: “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.”
The administration also drew attention to some 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 NRA also stayed silent on the student gatherings. But outside the FBI headquarters in Washington, about 30 gun-rights supporters staged a counter-demonstration in front of the FBI headquarters, standing quietly with signs such as ‘Armed victims live longer” and ‘Stop violating civil rights’.
Veteran civil rights leader John Lewis said the protests reminded him of the early days of the civil rights era. “I think it’s amazing,” Lewis said. “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 read ‘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. 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.
“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.
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”.
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.” 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.”
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.”
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 attend event at Parkland, Florida
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, Florida, 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. More than 20,000 attended to listen to the speeches from the amphitheater 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 Parkland 10th grader. “We become stronger because we feel we’re all one person.”
Additional reporting by staff of the Eagle Eye Max Schachter, the father of Alex, a 14-year Stoneman Douglas marching band musician, broke down in tears as he recalled how his son enjoyed playing basketball with his older brother and teaching his little sister “to become a better trombone player”. Schachter said that on 13 February he was like any other parent, wanting his children to be happy and get good grades. Then the Valentine’s Day shooting happened.
“Since the day that changed my life, I will not stop fighting for change,” he said.
Additional reporting by staff of the Eagle Eye, Edward Helmore and Richard Luscombe in Parkland, Florida
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