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Date | March 24, 2018 |
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Location | Washington, DC and over 800 other US cities |
Type | Demonstration (protest) |
Theme |
Gun violence awareness Support of gun control |
Cause | School shootings in the United States |
Organized by | Members of Never Again MSD, in cooperation with Everytown for Gun Safety |
Participants |
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Website |
March for Our Lives was a student-led demonstration in support of tighter gun control that took place on March 24, 2018, in Washington, D.C., with over 800 sibling events throughout the United States and around the world.[3][4][5][6][7] Student organizers planned the march in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Everytown for Gun Safety.[8] The event followed the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, which was described by many media outlets as a possible tipping point for gun control legislation.[9][10][11]
Protesters urged for universal background checks on all gun sales, raising the federal age of gun ownership and possession to the age of 21,[12]closing of the gun show loophole, a restoration of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, and a ban on the sale of high-capacity magazines in the United States.[13]
Turnout was estimated to be between 1.2 to 2 million people in the United States,[14][15][16] making it one of the largest protests in American history.[1]
Following the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on February 14, Cameron Kasky, a junior at the school, and his classmates, announced the march four days later.[17] Also joining the march efforts are Alex Wind of Stoneman Douglas High School, who along with four friends created the "Never Again" campaign.[8] Emma González and David Hogg, also survivors of the shooting, have been vocal supporters of the march.[18]
The date was chosen in order to give students, families and others a chance to mourn first, and then on March 24, talk about gun control.[18] Organizers filed a permit application with the National Park Serviceduring the week of February 23, and expected as many as 500,000 people to attend.[19][20] However the National Mall, which was the planned site of the main march in Washington, D.C. was reportedly already booked for March 24; the application, filed by an unidentified local student group, claimed it was for a talent show.[21][22] A permit was later obtained for Pennsylvania Avenue.[23] The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced it would operate extra trains for the march.[24]
The Enough! National School Walkout was held on the one month anniversary of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.[25][26] It involved students walking out from their classes for exactly seventeen minutes (one for each of the victims of the massacre)[27] and involved more than 3,000 schools across the United States[28][29] and nearly one million students.[30] Thousands of students also gathered and staged a rally in Washington D.C. after observing 17 minutes of silence with their backs to the White House.[26][31] After the success of the walkout, Hogg posted a tweet[32] that included a provocative, NRA-style advertisement calling out lawmakers for their inaction on or opposition to gun control efforts, asking "What if our politicians weren't the bitch of the NRA?", and ending with a promotion for the upcoming March.[33]
Amal and George Clooney donated $500,000 to support the march and announced they would attend. Oprah Winfrey matched the Clooney donation to support the march.[34][35] Jeffrey Katzenberg and his wife Marilyn also contributed $500,000.[36] Film director and producer Steven Spielberg and actress Kate Capshaw Spielberg donated $500,000, also matching the donation of the Clooneys.[37] On February 23, Gucciannounced they were also donating $500,000 towards the march.[38] Other people and organizations offering support have included Justin Bieber,[39] Gabby Giffords, Lauren Jauregui, Alyssa Milano, Moms Demand Action, Amy Schumer, St. Vincent, Harry Styles,[40] Hayley Williams,[41][42] Paul McCartney,[43] Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian.[44][45] John Legend and Chrissy Teigen donated $25,000.[46] Jimmy Fallon pledged to attend an event with his family.[47] Many other celebrities including Taylor Swift have donated an undisclosed amount of money toward the campaign.[48]
Late night host and comedian James Corden offered to make a serious speech on gun violence singling out the Parkland students and promoting the March for Our Lives event.[49] John Zimmerand Logan Green, the co-founders of Lyft, announced their support of the rallies and stated that their company would provide free rides for those attending demonstrations.[50] Dating app BumbleCEO Whitney Wolfe Herd subsequently announced that they were supporting the NeverAgain movement by banning all images of firearms on their dating application.[51]
Wrestler John Cena and Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown applauded the March for Our Lives event at the Kids Choice Awards.[52]
F1 driver and defending Drivers' champion Lewis Hamilton wore the slogan on his helmet for the 2018 Australian Grand Prix.
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In anticipation and planning of the day's events, many streets in the nation's capital were closed to vehicular traffic.[53][54] Several blocks of streets encompassing much of the National Mall, stretching from the Washington Monument to the United States Capitol and from Independence Avenue to E Street, were closed to vehicular traffic.[55][56]
In Connecticut, marches took place in Hartford,[57][58] East Haddam, Enfield, Guilford, Middlebury, New Haven, Old Saybrook, Pawcatuck, Roxbury, Salisbury, Shelton, and Westport.[59] Thousands marched in Stamford.[60] 500 marched in Kent, CT.[61]
In Maine, there were demonstrations planned in 15 communities throughout the state,[62] the largest demonstration occurring in the city of Portland,[63] with smaller marches in the cities of Bangor, Orono, Lewiston and Presque Isle.[64]
In Massachusetts, demonstrations were planned in Boston (Boston Common)[65][66] and Cape Ann.[67] WGBH reported that marches took place in Beverly, Hyannis (1,500 participants), Worcester (1,000 participants), Springfield (several hundred), Falmouth (500 participants), and Boston, where Boston Police estimate 80,000 people joined the march and demonstration.[68]
In New Hampshire, marches were planned in Concord[69] and Portsmouth.[70] The Concord event was organized by Eve Caplan, a sophomore at John Stark Regional High School,and another high school student in Plymouth, New Hampshire.[69] Portsmouth's demonstration was planned for Market Square, and was organized Sarah Mae Brown, a leader of The Resistance Seacoast.[70]
In New Jersey, demonstrations took place in Newark,[71] Hackensack, Morristown,[72] Ocean City, Asbury Park, Jersey City, Union and Somerset County.[73][74]
In New York, demonstrations were planned in Albany, Buffalo, New York City,[75] Rochester (Washington Square Park),[76] Ithaca, and White Plains.[77] Paul McCartney participated in the New York City demonstration and told a CNN journalist, "One of my best friends was killed in gun violence."[78] An estimated 200,000 people marched in NYC.[79]
In Pennsylvania, marches took place in Allentown,[80] Lancaster,[81] Philadelphia,[82] Pittsburgh,[83][84] Scranton,[85] and Reading.[86]
A march took place in Providence, Rhode Island.[87] Thousands of people gathered on the lawn of the Rhode Island statehouse for the demonstration on March 24, according to Rhode Island Public Radio.[88]
In Montpelier, Vermont, city officials estimated that 2,500 people participated in the demonstration on the State House lawn.[89] Elsewhere in Vermont, demonstrations were planned to take place in Rutland, Bennington, Middlebury, Manchester, and Putney.[90] Organizers in Putney estimated that 400 people participated in the march. Hundreds took part in the Middlebury march.[91]
In Illinois, demonstrations were planned in Chicago,[92] Glen Ellyn, Springfield,[93] Vernon Hills, and Downers Grove.[94]
A march was planned in Indianapolis, Indiana.[95][96]
Marches were planned in Des Moines, Iowa City and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[97]
Marches occurred in Detroit[98][99] and Lansing, Michigan[100]
A march was planned in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[101] Marches were planned in Rochester,[102] Grand Marais, Duluth,[103] Aitkin, Karlstad, Ely, Brainerd, Starbuck, Sartell, North Branch, Willmar, Mankato.[104]
In Missouri, marches were planned in Springfield[105] and St. Louis. The St. Louis march was scheduled to begin at 10:00am at Union Station and culminate at the Gateway Arch.[106] Initial estimates anticipate 10,000 attendees.[106]
In North Dakota, marches were planned in Fargo,[107] Bismarck[108] and Minot.[109]
In Ohio, a rally was planned in Cleveland on Public Square,[110][111] and in Cincinnati the events were scheduled to start at City Hall.[112] Another march occurred in Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse.[113] Another March for Our Lives rally took place in Athens, drawing several hundred protesters. A gathering in Dayton drew hundreds of people, as well.
A march was planned in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.[114]
In Wisconsin, marches were planned in Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, and Milwaukee.[115]
In Kansas, demonstrations were planned in Wichita,[116] Topeka,[117] Lawrence, and Kansas City.[118]
In Alabama, marches took place in Birmingham, Mobile, Dothan, Montgomery, Selma, Jasper, and Florence. The largest of these, the Birmingham march, drew over 5,000 attendees.[119]
In Florida, demonstrations were planned in Gulf Breeze,[120] Miami Beach, Orlando[121] and West Palm Beach.[122] The Orlando march was organized by Florida Resistance, and was held at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.[121] The city where the school shooting occurred, Parkland, also had a march.[123]
In Georgia, demonstrations were planned in Atlanta at the Georgia State Capitol,[124] Athens, Augusta,[125] and Dahlonega.[126] A march occurred in Savannah.[127]
A march was planned in Marshall County, Kentucky.[128]
In Louisiana, marches were held in Baton Rouge,[129] Lafayette,[130] and New Orleans.[131]
Students from Severna Park High School and other Anne Arundel County Public Schools[132] planned a demonstration to be held at Lawyer's Mall in Annapolis.[133] They invited 188 state legislators. Students, teachers, the Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, and Moms Demand Action were scheduled to speak.[132] In Baltimore, student members of the Student Activist Association at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute organized a march to begin at War Memorial Plaza in front of City Hall and ending near the Inner Harbor.[134][135] The Mayor of Baltimore, Catherine E. Pugh also announced that she was organizing 60 free buses to take students to the demonstrations in Washington, D.C.[134]
In North Carolina, marches were held in Asheville,[136] Charlotte,[137] Durham,[138] and Raleigh.[139] [140]
In Oklahoma, marches were held in Oklahoma City[141] and Tulsa.[141]
In South Carolina, marches were held in downtown Charleston, Greenville,[142] and Columbia.[143]
In Tennessee,[144] demonstrations were held in Chattanooga,[145] Knoxville,[146] Memphis,[147] and Nashville.[148]
In Texas, demonstrations were held in Austin,[149][150] Corpus Christi,[151] Dallas,[152] El Paso, Fort Worth,[153] Houston, and San Antonio. In Corpus Christi, students from W. B. Ray High School were scheduled to lead a march at 3:00pm in Sherill Veterans Memorial Park.[151]
In Virginia, Richmond Public Schools planned a march to take place at the Virginia State Capitol at 10:00am.[154] A march was also scheduled in downtown Norfolk.[155]
A march attended by hundreds of people occurred in Anchorage, Alaska. Marches also took place in Fairbanks, Homer, Juneau and Ketchikan.[156]
In Arizona, marches were held in Phoenix,[157] Prescott,[158] and Tucson.[159]
In California, marches were held in Encinitas,[160] Escondido,[161] Fresno,[162] Los Angeles,[163] Orange County,[164] Sacramento,[165] San Diego,[166] San Luis Obispo,[167] San Jose,[168] Oakland,[169] and San Francisco.[170]
In Hawaii, demonstrations were held in Honolulu,[171] Kahului,[172] and Waimea.[173]
A march was held in each of the cities of Denver, Colorado;[174] Boise, Idaho;[175] Idaho Falls;[176] Helena, Montana;[177] and Albuquerque, New Mexico.[178]
In Oregon, marches happened in Corvallis,[179] Bend,[180] Eugene,[181] Salem,[181] Florence,[181] Coos Bay and Portland.[182] The Portland event included a march from the North Park Blocks[183] to Pioneer Courthouse Square, where Portugal. The Man performed.[184][185]
In Utah, there were several marches planned including in Logan, Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo, Cedar City and St. George.[186][187]
Marches attended by hundreds in Washington state took place in Spokane[188],and Yakima, Washington.[189] Thousands marched in Seattle and Bellingham.[190][191]
In an official announcement to the state, Governor Ricardo Rosselló announced that he commissioned the Secretary of State, Luis G. Rivera Marín, to begin preparations for the march in San Juan.[192] Rosselló called for all citizens and civic, religious, and private sector organizations to stand united in solidarity for improved gun control.[192] He also remarked that Puerto Rico has the strictest gun control regulations of all jurisdictions in the country.[192] Rivera Marín stated that "our communities need to be a place where our people have peace, not fear."[193] He announced that the march would begin at Condado Lagoon and culminate at the Peace Pavillion in Luis Muñoz Rivera Park.[194]
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In British Columbia, marches were planned in Vancouver and Victoria.[195]
Marches were set to take place in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta.[195]
Students from R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson, Manitoba, were planning to march.[195]
In Ontario, marches were planned in Ottawa,[196] Guelph, Kitchener,[195] Stratford,[197] Toronto,[198] and Waterloo.[199]
In Quebec marches were planned in Montreal, Westmount,[200] Quebec City, and Sherbrooke.[195]
New Brunswick was set to have a march in Fredericton.[195]
Newfoundland and Labrador planned a march to take place in St. John's.[195]
Marches were planned in Accra, Ghana;[201] and Mozambique.[202]
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Survivors from the Parkland shooting spoke at the rally in Tel Aviv, Israel, which took place at the U. S. Embassy.[203]
Marches were planned for Hong Kong; Mumbai, India; and Tokyo and Okinawa, Japan.[196]
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Protests were held in Paris, Amsterdam, Majorca, Copenhagen,[204]; and Brussels.[205][206][207]
In Germany, protests were held in Berlin,[208] Hamburg,[208] Frankfurt,[209] Friedrichshafen, Heidelberg, Munich, and Wiesbaden.[210] Events were also scheduled in: Reykjavík,[211] Barcelona,[212]Oslo,[212] Stockholm,[209] and Geneva.[213]
In the United Kingdom, hundreds marched outside the US embassy in London.[214] Demonstrations were also planned in Belfast[215] and London.[206] In Scotland, relatives of the Dunblane massacre victims joined a demonstration outside the US consulate in Edinburgh.[216]
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Marches were planned for Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra,[217] and Sydney, Australia.[218]
New Zealand planned marches in Albert Park, Auckland; Parliament House, Wellington; Cathedral Square, Christchurch; and Union Hall at the University of Otago, Dunedin.[219]
In Argentina, a march was planned in Buenos Aires.[196]
March For Our Lives Rally, Washington, D.C., March 24, 2018, C-SPAN |
March for Our Lives was among the biggest youth-led protests since the Vietnam War era.[220][221][222] Estimates of participation at the main event in Washington, D.C., range from 200,000 to 800,000.[223][224][225]
The speakers—all of whom were high schoolers or younger[226]—included Marjory Stoneman Douglas students Cameron Kasky, David Hogg, Delaney Tarr, Sarah Chadwick, Alex Wind, Jaclyn Corin, Ryan Deitsch, Aalayah Eastmond, Sam Fuentes, and Emma González.[225][227] Other participants included Naomi Wadler, who is an elementary school student in Alexandria, Virginia,[228][229][230] Trevon Bosley from Chicago whose brother was shot and killed leaving church,[231] Edna Chavez, a high school student from Los Angeles,[232] and Zion Kelly, whose twin brother was shot and killed during an armed robbery.[233] Yolonda Reene King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., also made an appearance[234] along with Mya Middleton, a student from Chicago,[235] Matt Post, a senior from Montgomery County,[236] Christopher Underwood, an 11-year old from New York,[237] Alex King and D'Angelo McDade from Chicago,[238] and Matthew Soto, brother of Sandy Hook victim Victoria Soto.[239]
González, after briefly speaking and naming the 17 victims, stood silent for over four minutes, after which a cellphone alarm went off and she announced that it was the six minute and twenty second point in her speech, equal to the length of the Parkland shooting.[240][241][242] Her speech and emotional moment of silence was praised by many media organizations as one of the "most memorable"[243] and "powerful" moments in the day's events.[244][245] González ended her speech by saying:
Since the time that I came out here, it has been 6 minutes and 20 seconds, The shooter has ceased shooting, and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape, and walk free for an hour before arrest. Fight for your lives before it's someone else's job.[246]
Singers Ariana Grande, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Platt, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Andra Day, Common, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga and Demi Lovatojoined student-led marchers in Washington, D.C.[227][247]
On March 21, NRA TV host Grant Stinchfield stated that "March for Our Lives is backed by radicals with a history of violent threats, language and actions"; fact-checker PolitiFact has rated this statement as being "without merit" and "Pants on Fire" indicating that it is a "ridiculous claim".[248][249]
While the march was occurring, the NRA posted a membership drive video on their Facebook page, declaring that the "protests aren't spontaneous. Gun-hating billionaires and Hollywood elites are manipulating and exploiting children as part of their plan to DESTROY the Second Amendment". Another video dubbed "A March for Their Lies" was uploaded to YouTube featuring Colion Noir, in which he described the planned rally as a "carnival of a march". Noir also said in the video that there is an "agenda that's a million times bigger than the guns".[250][251][252]
The Washington Post reported that there were many Democrats encouraging the marchers, and many of them, including candidates for office, participated from the sidelines in the march, but few Republicans did similarly.[253] The White House said in a response that they "applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their first amendment rights".[254]
On the day of the protests, Florida Republican senator Marco Rubio responded by stating: "However, many other Americans do not support a gun ban" and "view banning guns as an infringement on the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens that ultimately will not prevent these tragedies". He called for protesters to find "common ground with those who hold opposing views" for change to happen.[255][256][257]
Former Republican senator and presidential candidate Rick Santorum criticized the Parkland activists, suggesting during an interview with CNN that students should be learning ways to respond to a shooter rather than asking lawmakers "to solve their problem"; Santorum advised students to take classes in CPR rather than marching in Washington.[258][259] The Washington Post quoted several doctors responding to Santorum that CPR would not be at all effective on gunshot victims as they were suffering from blood loss.[260]
Former Democratic President Barack Obama said that he was "so inspired by all the young people" who made March for Our Lives possible. He addressed them: "Keep at it. You're leading us forward. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change."[261]
A report in The New Yorker praised the leaders of the march for their "extraordinary inclusiveness" in that they expanded the locus of concern from suburban schools to those of urban neighborhoods as well.[262]
On social media, fake pictures and GIFs of Emma González tearing up a copy of the U.S. Constitution were circulated in an effort to discredit the march. The images were doctored from originals of González tearing up a shooting target sign. Actor and conservative commentator Adam Baldwin defended circulating the doctored images as "political satire".[263][264]
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of students gathered in the nation's capital and at sister marches across the country and around the world to deliver a powerful, unified message: Enough is enough
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Yakima Herald-Republic.
Retrieved March 24, 2018.
Democrats' message at gun-control rallies: Do what the students say ... politicians, most of them Democrats, cheered them on ... Democratic leaders from both houses of Congress participated in the marches... There was less praise for the marches from Republicans.... No Republican leader in Congress commented on the March
... Rick Santorum said Sunday that students .... should have responded to the massacre of their classmates by 'taking CPR classes' instead of 'looking to someone else to solve their problem.'
....leadership has managed to broaden the locus of concern beyond mass shootings at comfortable suburban schools ... to gun violence in urban neighborhoods as well...
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