Thousands are gathering in various parts of South Florida Saturday to rally for new gun legislation in the wake of multiple mass shootings across the country.
March For Our Lives, a student group created after the Parkland school shooting, will hold rallies at several locations throughout the day on Saturday to demand change following the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and others.
One of those rallies is taking place in Parkland at Pines Trails Park from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The rally will include Parkland survivors, family members, and gun violence activists, as well as musical performances by various artists.
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"It is a human issue," said Debbi Hixon, whose husband Chris was killed in the Parkland shooting. "Too many people are dying from gun violence that can and should be prevented.
Also taking to the podium was Albert Campbell, an executive member of the Circle of Brotherhood, who led the crowd in a chant shouting, “We are one!”
“We shared our differences growing up in different worlds and living different lives," said Campbell. "And yet, what brought us all together was gun violence."
A student who attended West Glades Middle School, next door to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, at the time of the Parkland shooting also spoke at the rally. She told her story and shared that she had developed post-traumatic stress disorder following the shooting.
Other speakers include congressional lawmakers, state lawmakers, and school board members.
Following the Parkland rally, there will be a short march through the park as activists demand action from lawmakers to curb gun violence.
There is also a rally taking place in Miami-Dade County at city hall in Coral Gables from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A third rally took place earlier on Saturday in Weston from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The March For Our Lives rally in Weston is the city's first in four years since March of 2018, following the Parkland tragedy which took place just 20 minutes away.
The three South Florida rallies will take place in coordination with over 400 rallies across the country, including one in D.C. that is expected to turn out over 50,000 people.
