March for Our Lives: ‘Nearly all people had a story about gun violence’

Washington, DC – Almost all people at Saturday’s March for Our Lives in Washington, DC had a story about gun violence.

I met a man whose buddy dedicated suicide with a gun when he used to be 11 years gentle.

Formative years told me about lockdown drills at their faculties, performed in case there would possibly be ever an full of life attacker there.

One woman told me about her buddy who used to be shot ineffective while sitting in his automobile.

Among those on the march used to be Jordin Torres who stood by herself, searching solemn as she held a poster that read: « I really beget a dream that one day I acquired’t be worried to head to faculty. » It showed a semi-computerized weapon pointed at a yellow pencil.

She told me: « I desire extra security in college. I desire weapons to be out of our faculties, for kids to be salvage. »

Esteem so many change kids I spoke to, college is no longer a recount that feels salvage for Torres. 

Torres used to be one amongst thousands of thousands of scholars, teachers and their helps who attended the march, calling for stricter gun adjust in the wake of 1 among the deadliest college shootings in US history closing month. 

It used to be organised by led by the survivors of the mass capturing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College in Parkland, Florida. As a minimal 17 folks were killed when a gunman went on a capturing rampage at some level of the faculty. 

For quite loads of kids, college is no longer a recount that feels salvage [Anar Virji/Al Jazeera]

On the rally, a teenage boy along with his mother waved at me and smiled.

Ethan Lofgren has autism, and his mother worries about how he would possibly maybe per chance well also react if there were a capturing at his college.

It be on Ethan’s solutions, too: « Usually I trouble that something be pleased that can maybe per chance well also … that an person be pleased that can maybe per chance well also wreck into my college and even my home. »

Ethan’s mother, Alma, talked about security is a constant trouble: « We send our childhood off to faculty in the morning no longer sparkling in the event that they are going to develop it dwelling. »

Marcus Finley came to the march along with his young son, who used to be perched on his shoulders.

Finley held a signal with a wish list: pizza all day, Disney World, no nap time, and salvage faculties.

« I really beget a young son who’s about to be in kindergarten, » Marcus talked about. « So making definite that the locations he goes are salvage and salvage is admittedly significant. »

Students I spoke to desire to enjoy from hazard no longer great in college, however in every single place.

Two days sooner than the march, I went to Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington, DC, the place students held a rally with one of the crucial crucial snort leaders from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas.

Almost all people on the rally had a story about gun violence [Anar Virji/Al Jazeera]

Delonta Johnson, 15, attends Thurgood Marshall. After the rally, he told me about his non-public ride with gun violence.

« Wait on in July 2012, July 27, two detectives came to my door and told me my father used to be ineffective, and he had died in an alley about twelve or one o’clock at night, » Johnson talked about.

« When I am at dwelling I hear gunshots and or no longer it is great be pleased something I judge must be changed. I save no longer beget to head dwelling and be plagued by gunshots. I save no longer beget to listen to that. »

For thus many people I spoke to on the march, the pervasiveness of gun violence in the US and how it is affecting them is prompting them to snort.

Jared Rubin will soon graduate from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas.

One in every of his shut chums, Joaquin Oliver, died in the capturing, and Jared is on the march along with his aunt and older sister to beget a express for the 17 folks that died on February 14.

He desires students so to head college and no longer beget to trouble for his or her lives.

« Guarantee you hiss your household you like them » Jared told me.

« In The US merely now, you really attain no longer know if this is in a position to maybe per chance well also be your closing time you would also be in a recount to insist you like any individual. »