Protesters demanded an end to gun violence at the March For Our Lives rally in downtown Raleigh on March 24. This event started out specifically in Washington DC with the families and high schoolers that were victims of the Parkland shooting demanding that gun violence and shootings in schools have to stop.
Raleigh was one of the cities throughout the country that participated in this protest with families, students, state leaders, and citizens making their voices heard. From the marching to the speeches and music, there was a theme of desperation, empowerment, anger, and hope in each voice and sign.
During the normal class day on March 17, there was a National School Walkout that took place for 17 minutes to honor the 17 lives that were lost during the Parkland school shooting in Florida that some of William Peace University’s faculty and students took part in. That was just the start of raising more awareness about gun violence in schools and demanding action.
“Last week we walked out, today we marched forward, tomorrow we must demand action,” state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, a Wake County Democrat, said at the march.
Chaudhuri stated there are three important things that students want adults and lawmakers to know. First, they want adult and lawmakers to listen to their voice and know that they do not feel safe at school. Secondly, students want adults and lawmakers to support them. Adults and lawmakers need to support students because they have taken on an issue that requires a lot of work. And lastly, he stated that students want adults and lawmakers to act. If there is no action, then nothing will change.
“I stand here before you as a father who kisses his kids goodbye and says I love you and listens to them as they tell me they love me too, and I hope and pray that they stay safe in that school,” he said.
According to March For Our Lives, the movement was “created by, inspired by, and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar. In the tragic wake of the seventeen lives brutally cut short in Florida, politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now”.
March For Our Lives is making gun violence stay in the spotlight until change happens. Ever since shootings such as the Virginia Tech shooting and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, there have been demands of gun control in schools. After the high school shooting in FL., and most recently in Maryland, gun violence awareness is not being slowed down.
A 12-year-old who spoke at the rally voiced his concern and opinion about gun violence and the lack of freedom his family has to voice their opinions due to being undocumented citizens. “We don’t need walls, we need gun control.”
According to March For Our Lives, “School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying when they should be learning, playing, and growing. The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues.”
“No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in our country.”
“Every kid in this country now goes to school wondering if this day might be their last. We live in fear. It doesn’t have to be this way. Change is coming. And it starts now, inspired by and led by the kids who are our hope for the future. Their young voices will be heard.”