What to Know
- Organizers estimate that about 800,000 protesters packed Washington, D.C. for the March for Our Lives rally.
- Students and teachers met with lawmakers after marching to push their agenda.
- Students say their next step is to push politicians to propose new legislation.
Demonstrators returning to South Florida from Washington, D.C. have a renewed sense of solidarity.
“It felt surreal to see everybody standing together as one; the same belief for the same cause,” said Taylor Green, a participant in Saturday’s rally. “No matter where they came from, what they looked like, they had all been touched by gun violence.”
Organizers with “March for Our Lives” estimate that about 800,000 protesters packed our nation’s capital to push for stricter gun control.
“It’s a chance for them to make some sense out of this horror,” said Debby Miller, a teacher in Broward County.
“Too young to understand, but old enough to die” is the handwritten message Stoneman Douglas junior Sheryl Acquaroli held up on Saturday. She described her experience as historic, powerful and overwhelmingly emotional, especially when Emma Gonzalez stood in complete silence.
“Because I’ve known Emma since my freshman year, I immediately knew what she was trying to do. I stayed silent with her and that for me was so impactful,” said Acquaroli.
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The students and teachers boarded five planes to make the trip, courtesy of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ foundation. Some travelers from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High combined marching with meaningful one-on-one meetings.
“I personally met with Doug Jones' people and was trying to push the agenda that we need stronger gun laws, we need gun control,” said Ariel Braunstein, a senior at MSD. “We need something that will make me feel safe in school. Metal detectors and clear backpacks aren’t really going to do that.”
The Parkland survivors want to remind everyone that their activism isn’t stopping once the rally is over.
“This is simply the beginning. Just going to keep going and going and going until we get what we need,” said Acquaroli.
Energized teens say their next step is pressuring politicians to propose new legislation, while also urging young voters to make it count in November.
“We’re going to start pressing them until we get the midterm elections,” said Ashley Santoro, a junior at Stoneman Douglas.
“What we need to do is keep this going in our local communities and get everyone out there to vote, because we all know what’s coming next,” said Green.
