In direct response to the horrific events that occured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14th, millions rallied worldwide in over 856 towns and cities to march with hopes for reforming gun laws in the United States. This student-led demonstration occured on Saturday, March 24, only days after the “Enough!” National School Walkout. Although this march was not the first of its kind, especially in recent years, it was the largest student protest in American history.

Hundreds of thousands joined in Washington, D.C., Marching on the National Mall from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, in the same way that so many other marches to protest policies and promote change have done before. Over 800,000 civilians gathered at the National Mall to listen to speeches and performances from celebrities, as well as Parkland survivors who had organized the movement and the march; Emma Gonzalez spoke eloquently and powerfully, then stood silently for six and a half minutes, which represented the six and a half minutes it took Nicholas Cruz to kill 17 people and injure even more in honor of the lives lost during the Parkland shooting.

 Panorama of the March for our Lives in NYC

Photo Credit: Alexa Doyle SHS ’21

While the sister marches in other cities in towns were in slightly less attended than the one in Washington, they were no less effective and showed no wavering spirit. While attending the march in New York City, Senator Chuck Schumer rode through the crowded streets on his bicycle, snapping pictures with other marchers and supporters of the movement and making moving statements on the demonstration. “You have the NRA against America and when America stands up like they are today we will win the fight,” Senator Schumer told Maroon. While he spoke, crowds of people who were nearby marching for the movement stopped and listened. They then cheered and rallied behind him, later marching with even more spirit and optimism than they had before.

In White plains, over 5000 people marched from Post Road Elementary to the White Plains public library. Once they reached the library, they gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. statue where the mayor of White Plains spoke, along with nine students who aided in the organizing of the march and gave uplifting speeches. The entire march was organized and led by Kelly Marx WPHS ’18 and other students from various grades and different schools throughout Westchester. “The fact that it was student led is so important. We are going to be the change. Our generation is going to clean up the mess the older generation made,” voiced Simran Ruta SHS ‘21, a member of the SHS Students for Gun Control club and a march attendee.

After the March in NYC people line up their posters on the sidewalk:

Photo Credit: Alexa Doyle SHS ’21

Ava Schneider, a former Scarsdale student and current Marjory Stoneman Douglas Freshman and survivor, attended the march in D.C. Ever since the shooting at her school, she has been using her voice and actions to fight for change. “I want to see a change where people are no longer scared to do their everyday activities [and] want people to walk around a place they have known for their whole lives and all of a sudden feel unsafe,” voiced Schneider. This student-led movement was one of the greatest in history and thousands of students felt empowered and ready for change. “In 30 years from now our kids will be learning about the day the children of America made a difference and they will be watching the speeches and news reports from this day,” expressed Schneider.

Photo Credit: Lea Saslekova SHS ’20

Although many news reporters and broadcasters are pointing to the march as the tipping point for stricter gun regulations and laws, the organizers and leaders of the movement have repeatedly made it clear that this is only the beginning. “The most inspiring part is that there is a movement. Something is happening,” said Ruta.  This march may not have been the first event for the cause, but it certainly was the most well attended and spirited, and therefore, surely it won’t be the last.

By: Clara Weller and Ariel Weinsaft