'We deserve to live a life without fear of being gunned down'
The second speaker, Trevon Bosley, just spoke on behalf of youth in Chicago.
“I’m here to speak for those Chicago youth who feel like their voices have been silenced for far too long.”
His brother, Terrell Bosley, was shot and killed in 2006 while leaving church. A woman held a picture of Terrell next to his brother while he spoke.
Bosley went on to mention the underlying issues that have perpetuated gun violence in Chicago including poverty, a lack of workforce development and funds being diverted to tourism instead of the city.
“It was caused by several problems we are still dealing with to this day,” Bosley said.
He says when the president talks about Chicago gun violence constantly without diverting funds to assist the city, gun violence will continue to be a problem.
“We deserve to live a life without fear of being gunned down,” he said.
Our special correspondents, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, have been speaking to more marchers and protest organizers in Washington.
“I’m watching Cameron speak right now, and I am so close to crying,” said Emma Gonzalez, one of the most well-known of the Parkland students. “I’m just so happy that this is really happening- This is the coolest moment of my life.”
“You know it’s overwhelming, but in a good way, because this is a show of unity and positivity in the best way possible,” MSD senior Delaney Tarr told Nikhita Nookala.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school student Cameron Kasky just took the stage.
“Welcome to the revolution,” Kasky said. “It is a powerful and peaceful one because it is of, for and by the young people of this country.”
“Politicians, either represent the people or get out,” Kasky said.
He read out the list of students and staff who died at his school on 14 Feb.
The last name Kasky said was Nicholas Dworet, who would have turned 18 today.
Happy Birthday #NicholasDworet today we celebrate him and remember not only the 16 others from my school that are with him, but all people that have been cruely taken from this world by gun violence.
Teacher Charlie Posey from Maryland. She says the red pen is a time-honoured weapon. Next month her school will go through a “transition drill” - a drill for when kids are not “sitting nicely in a classroom”. “It’s a lot of responsibility,” she says. pic.twitter.com/b3JlNn4H0A
My colleague Oliver Laughland is also at the march in Washington.
16 year-olds Sophia Hiltz & Alanis Moulier came from Great Mills high in Maryland to remember their friend Jaelynn Willey who died yesterday after being shot on campus this week. “It can happen to anyone, anywhere. Something needs to be done.” #MarchForOurLivespic.twitter.com/IzVoxHIl7m
17 year-old Cassie Pearce got to DC on a 10 hour bus trip from Vermont. “I’m here because enough is enough. We have a right to be heard.” #MarchForOurLivespic.twitter.com/m8DRCnonMv
Our special correspondents, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, have been interviewing marchers in Washington.
“It means everything to be here,” Nicole Anderson told Lewis Mizen. “To not only fight for the lives lost but to fight for change. We are making history and I want to do everything in my power to be a part of it.”
Nicole Anderson. Photograph: Lewis Mizen/The Guardian
“After the shooting, I was devastated like most of Douglas was,” MSD student Sarah Chadwick told Christy Ma. “I’m a type A kind of person though so I had to do something, otherwise it felt like I was letting people down.”
“This is a fight,” Ryan Deitsch, a senior at MSD, said. “It’s a long fight. It isn’t over yet. We can march all we want but until we march to their doorsteps, knock on the door, nothing will change.”
Nikhita Nookala has been speaking to US Congressman Ted Deutch. “Here’s the moment I’m really proud of,” he said.”Someone came up to me and asked: ‘Is your last name Deutch?’ and then: ‘Are you related to that Ryan kid?’”
The Guardian’s Richard Luscombe reports from Parkland, Florida, where he has been closely following the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting since it took place a little over a month ago.
Max Schachter, father of one of the victims, Alex, a 14-year Stoneman Douglas marching band musician, addressed the crowd at the rally.
Schacter 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” and that on February 13 he was like any other parent, wanting his children to be happy and getting 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.
“The 17 beautiful angels would not stop fighting until make this world a better and safer place.”
Schachter has set up two foundations in his son’s memory, the Alex Schachter scholarship fund for the MSD marching band that his son loved.
The second is the Safe Schools for Alex foundation.
“Alex’s death could have been prevented, all the lives could have,” he said.
Schachter said the MSD students’ campaign for gun reform had inspired him.
“The beautiful lives lost have not and will not be in vain,” he said.
In 1992, a 16-year-old Japanese exchange student was shot dead on his way to a Halloween party in Louisiana.
Yoshi Hattori’s parents have been campaigners for stricter gun laws in the US ever since and on Saturday hosted a March for Our Lives rally in the Japanese city of Nagoya.
“I was moved by the high school students challenging the government on the gun control issues,” Mieko Hattori, Yoshi’s mother, told the Guardian. “I felt something was changing at the bottom. I hope adults who have common sense take actions with them for the US to be safer country. The future is for the young.”
Mieko Hattori and her husband Masaichi Hattori added in an emailed statement: “Adults should treasure the wish of young people for their peaceful future.”
After Yoshi’s death, his parents gathered about 1.7 million Japanese and 250,000 American signatures on a petition calling for action. President Bill Clinton met the Hattoris in November 1993, and their campaign helped to build momentum for the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which introduced background checks for people buying firearms.
The Hattoris still recall Yoshi’s fascination with US culture – and his hope that America might one day become his “second home”. His student exchange experience was meant to last for a year, but was cut short after just two and a half months.
Steve Craig, 64 and Maddie Craig, 21, from New Castle, PA
The father and daughter came to Washington to show their support for the Parkland students, and to advocate for a ban on assault weapons.
“I think the second amendment [right to bear arms] needs to be repealed and amended. I don’t think the right to own a gun should be unlimited,” Steve Craig said.
Maddie Craig said she thought social media had changed the gun control debate, allowing students to speak directly to each other and share their experiences. “For Columbine, there wasn’t that social media presence.” Now, she said, “You can hear every student’s opinion. There’s a lot more awareness of what’s going on across America.”
Maddie Craig, 21, and Steve Craig, 64, from New Castle, PA. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/The Guardian
Alice Gambino, 42, from Silver Spring, MD
Alice Gambino’s two sons, ages 15 and 8, were too afraid to come to the rally, worried that the large crowds would attract “gun crazies”, and that there might be another act of violence.
“You don’t have to go. I’ll go for you,” she told them.
Gambino said this was her first protest for gun control. “I think I was waiting for someone else to do something,” she said.
“Seeing that the kids in the last attack had to rally themselves, I felt very guilty. We the parents should have already been in the streets and we shouldn’t have left until we made the change for them.”
Alice Gambino, 42, from Silver Spring, Maryland. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/The Guardian
Sakeenah Dasti, 16, Amanah Dasti, 11 and Ruqaiyah Dasti, 17, from Gaithersburg, Maryland
“We haven’t forgotten what happened in Sandy Hook and Columbine and Virginia Tech. Those things happened a long time ago, and people tried putting them in the back of their minds, but we’re showing here that we haven’t forgotten about any of that,” said Ruqaiyah Dasti, 17.
The shooting that first affected her directly was Sandy Hook, she said. “I was very young,” she said. “I was nervous, I didn’t really understand what it was about. I remember being afraid.”
For Amanah Dasti, 11, it was “when it happened here.” There was a school shooting nearby in Maryland just this past week.
Sakeenah Dasti, 16, Amanah Dasti 11, and Ruqaiyah Dasti, 17, from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/The Guardian
Comments (…)
Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion