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| March for Our Lives: Students Protesting Guns Say ‘We Just Have Our Lives to Lose’ | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people, outraged by a recent massacre at a South Florida school and energized by the students who survived, prepared to spill out in public protest in Washington and communities across the world on Saturday as they demand an end to gun violence. | |
| The student activists, many of them sharp-tongued and defiant in the face of politicians and gun lobbyists, have kept attention on the issue in a time of renewed political activism on the left, as they helped lead a national school walkout and pushed state officials in Florida to enact gun legislation. | The student activists, many of them sharp-tongued and defiant in the face of politicians and gun lobbyists, have kept attention on the issue in a time of renewed political activism on the left, as they helped lead a national school walkout and pushed state officials in Florida to enact gun legislation. |
| On Friday, the Justice Department proposed banning so-called bump stocks, but President Trump signed a spending bill that included only some background check and school safety measures. The effectiveness of the students’ efforts will be measured, in part, on the success of Saturday’s events — their most ambitious show of force yet. | On Friday, the Justice Department proposed banning so-called bump stocks, but President Trump signed a spending bill that included only some background check and school safety measures. The effectiveness of the students’ efforts will be measured, in part, on the success of Saturday’s events — their most ambitious show of force yet. |
| Here’s what we’re watching as protests unfurl around the globe: | Here’s what we’re watching as protests unfurl around the globe: |
| • More than 800 protests are planned in every American state and on every continent except for Antarctica, according to a website set up by organizers. Here’s a map of planned protests. | • More than 800 protests are planned in every American state and on every continent except for Antarctica, according to a website set up by organizers. Here’s a map of planned protests. |
| • More than half a million people were expected to demonstrate in Washington, where the main event, called March for Our Lives, kicks off around midday. | • More than half a million people were expected to demonstrate in Washington, where the main event, called March for Our Lives, kicks off around midday. |
| • Some of the most prominent student activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a shooting left 17 dead last month, will speak in Washington. | • Some of the most prominent student activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a shooting left 17 dead last month, will speak in Washington. |
| • Counterprotests in support of gun rights appeared to be planned in cities including Salt Lake City, Greenville, S.C., and Helena, Mont. | • Counterprotests in support of gun rights appeared to be planned in cities including Salt Lake City, Greenville, S.C., and Helena, Mont. |
| • The Times has journalists covering the marches in Washington; New York; Boston; Montpelier, Vt.; Parkland, Fla; Dahlonega, Ga.; Chicago; Salt Lake City; Los Angeles; Anchorage, Alaska; Rome; Berlin; and Tokyo. Follow them on Twitter. | • The Times has journalists covering the marches in Washington; New York; Boston; Montpelier, Vt.; Parkland, Fla; Dahlonega, Ga.; Chicago; Salt Lake City; Los Angeles; Anchorage, Alaska; Rome; Berlin; and Tokyo. Follow them on Twitter. |
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| The mission statement on the organizers’ website says the marches on Saturday are to “demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues.” | The mission statement on the organizers’ website says the marches on Saturday are to “demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues.” |
| Ilan Alhadeff, who lost his 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, in the Parkland shooting and traveled to Washington with his wife and four family members, said that while gun policy is “polarizing,” measures like putting bulletproof glass in classroom doors are not. “She would have wanted this,” he said. “My beautiful princess: We are giving them all a voice.” | Ilan Alhadeff, who lost his 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa, in the Parkland shooting and traveled to Washington with his wife and four family members, said that while gun policy is “polarizing,” measures like putting bulletproof glass in classroom doors are not. “She would have wanted this,” he said. “My beautiful princess: We are giving them all a voice.” |
| Several of the Stoneman Douglas students have spent the last few days meeting with political leaders. | Several of the Stoneman Douglas students have spent the last few days meeting with political leaders. |
| Jaclyn Corin, 17, a junior and lead organizer, will give a speech at the rally, and in an interview she compared the march to protests against the Vietnam War and rallies for civil rights. She recently spoke with Representative John Lewis, a key player during the civil rights era. “He said he saw himself and his friends and his movement in us, in our movement,” she said. | Jaclyn Corin, 17, a junior and lead organizer, will give a speech at the rally, and in an interview she compared the march to protests against the Vietnam War and rallies for civil rights. She recently spoke with Representative John Lewis, a key player during the civil rights era. “He said he saw himself and his friends and his movement in us, in our movement,” she said. |
| The event will be a show of strength for a group that will soon have access to the ballot box — something marchers plan to emphasize. | The event will be a show of strength for a group that will soon have access to the ballot box — something marchers plan to emphasize. |
| “What we’re doing is because we’re not scared of these adults,” Ms. Corin said, “because we have nothing to lose, we don’t have an election to lose, we don’t have a job to lose — we just have our lives to lose.” | “What we’re doing is because we’re not scared of these adults,” Ms. Corin said, “because we have nothing to lose, we don’t have an election to lose, we don’t have a job to lose — we just have our lives to lose.” |
| A group called HeadCount is sending roughly 5,000 volunteers to register people at 30 marches across the country. | A group called HeadCount is sending roughly 5,000 volunteers to register people at 30 marches across the country. |
| The student activists also hope to elevate gun control as a key issue in the coming midterm elections, and to build support for candidates with whom they are aligned on issues such as universal background checks and bans on assault-style weapons. | The student activists also hope to elevate gun control as a key issue in the coming midterm elections, and to build support for candidates with whom they are aligned on issues such as universal background checks and bans on assault-style weapons. |
| In Florida, a state that is notoriously stubborn on guns, the students’ activism helped spur a newly passed law that raises the minimum age for gun purchases and creates a waiting period for buying guns, among other things, but does not ban assault weapons or strengthen background checks. | In Florida, a state that is notoriously stubborn on guns, the students’ activism helped spur a newly passed law that raises the minimum age for gun purchases and creates a waiting period for buying guns, among other things, but does not ban assault weapons or strengthen background checks. |
| The Washington march will draw many survivors of mass shootings. It will also draw people like Dantrell Blake, 21, and his cousin Deshon Hannah, 20. Both were shot as teenagers in Chicago, and they said they hoped their visit to Washington would bring attention to the plight of their city’s many shooting victims. | The Washington march will draw many survivors of mass shootings. It will also draw people like Dantrell Blake, 21, and his cousin Deshon Hannah, 20. Both were shot as teenagers in Chicago, and they said they hoped their visit to Washington would bring attention to the plight of their city’s many shooting victims. |
| “When something like that happens,” Mr. Blake said of Parkland, “it’s like, ‘It’s a massacre.’ But it’s a massacre in Chicago every day — and this definitely can be talked about.” | “When something like that happens,” Mr. Blake said of Parkland, “it’s like, ‘It’s a massacre.’ But it’s a massacre in Chicago every day — and this definitely can be talked about.” |
| Sayem Hussein, an 18-year-old high school senior, said that he had woken up at 2 a.m. and traveled an hour and a half by subway and Uber to get to East Harlem, where he was waiting on a street corner for his classmates and a bus that would drive them to Washington. | Sayem Hussein, an 18-year-old high school senior, said that he had woken up at 2 a.m. and traveled an hour and a half by subway and Uber to get to East Harlem, where he was waiting on a street corner for his classmates and a bus that would drive them to Washington. |
| “I am a firm believer of constitutional rights,” said Mr. Hussein, who had a small copy of the Constitution in his jacket pocket. “I completely understand the Second Amendment and why people are so defensive about it, but gun regulation is totally different from taking away someone’s gun. If you want to talk about it in a constitutional sense, our founding fathers never thought of assault rifles and, really, war machines and killing machines.” | “I am a firm believer of constitutional rights,” said Mr. Hussein, who had a small copy of the Constitution in his jacket pocket. “I completely understand the Second Amendment and why people are so defensive about it, but gun regulation is totally different from taking away someone’s gun. If you want to talk about it in a constitutional sense, our founding fathers never thought of assault rifles and, really, war machines and killing machines.” |
| He said he was marching in support of a ban on assault rifles for civilian use. | He said he was marching in support of a ban on assault rifles for civilian use. |
| Further south, more than 200 students, teachers and parents from Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island packed into four buses headed for Washington. | Further south, more than 200 students, teachers and parents from Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island packed into four buses headed for Washington. |
| John Papanier, 17, a senior and student organizer, said that his school had a gun scare a week after the Parkland shooting. “We had a hard lockdown and I was hiding under a desk,” he said. “Nobody should have to go though that.” | John Papanier, 17, a senior and student organizer, said that his school had a gun scare a week after the Parkland shooting. “We had a hard lockdown and I was hiding under a desk,” he said. “Nobody should have to go though that.” |
| Mr. Papanier said he supported raising the gun-buying age to at least 21, from 18. | Mr. Papanier said he supported raising the gun-buying age to at least 21, from 18. |
| Students from gun-owning families brought unique perspectives. In Maineville, Ohio, Grace Mason, 16, who planned to march in a nearby town, said that coming from a gun-owning family and having experience shooting at a range gave her credibility. | Students from gun-owning families brought unique perspectives. In Maineville, Ohio, Grace Mason, 16, who planned to march in a nearby town, said that coming from a gun-owning family and having experience shooting at a range gave her credibility. |
| “I think there’s a difference between going to a shooting range and having it on your person all the time,” she said. “I don’t agree with the idea of having a gun on your person at all times.” | “I think there’s a difference between going to a shooting range and having it on your person all the time,” she said. “I don’t agree with the idea of having a gun on your person at all times.” |
| In the days after the shooting in Parkland, some of the student activists began drawing national attention with impassioned speeches at rallies, television appearances and pointed responses to critics on social media. They have also reportedly scarfed pizza and met in secret to try to keep the integrity of their kids-first approach. | |
| Still, they have accepted financial support from adults as well. Oprah Winfrey and the couple George and Amal Clooney each donated $500,000 to the cause, and other celebrities such as Steven Spielberg have followed suit. Big political names in the anti-gun movement, such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown for Gun Safety, have contributed help as well. | Still, they have accepted financial support from adults as well. Oprah Winfrey and the couple George and Amal Clooney each donated $500,000 to the cause, and other celebrities such as Steven Spielberg have followed suit. Big political names in the anti-gun movement, such as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown for Gun Safety, have contributed help as well. |
| The activists themselves have raised several million dollars on crowdfunding websites. And Deena Katz, an organizer of the Los Angeles Women’s March, is pitching in as an adviser. | The activists themselves have raised several million dollars on crowdfunding websites. And Deena Katz, an organizer of the Los Angeles Women’s March, is pitching in as an adviser. |
| Barack and Michelle Obama hand-penned a letter in support of the movement that was obtained by the news outlet Mic, and former President Bill Clinton voiced his support for the activists on Twitter. | Barack and Michelle Obama hand-penned a letter in support of the movement that was obtained by the news outlet Mic, and former President Bill Clinton voiced his support for the activists on Twitter. |
| Perhaps the most formidable political foe the students face is the National Rifle Association. | Perhaps the most formidable political foe the students face is the National Rifle Association. |
| Its leaders have questioned whether the students were mature enough to lead a discussion about national policy, and representatives have also accused the movement of being backed by “radicals with a history of violent threats,” a claim that the fact-checking website PolitiFact deemed untrue. | Its leaders have questioned whether the students were mature enough to lead a discussion about national policy, and representatives have also accused the movement of being backed by “radicals with a history of violent threats,” a claim that the fact-checking website PolitiFact deemed untrue. |
| Supporters of gun rights have opted to protest in some areas on Saturday, and to stand down in others. | Supporters of gun rights have opted to protest in some areas on Saturday, and to stand down in others. |
| In Salt Lake City, a rally for gun rights will begin just before the rally for gun control. Both marches will take the same route, from a high school to the Utah Capitol. | In Salt Lake City, a rally for gun rights will begin just before the rally for gun control. Both marches will take the same route, from a high school to the Utah Capitol. |
| The gun rights rally there is led by Bryan Melchior, 45, a co-owner of a website that sells firearms and firearm accessories. Mr. Melchior said that in recent days he had been contacted by many young people who felt that the swell of calls for stricter gun laws did not represent their views. | The gun rights rally there is led by Bryan Melchior, 45, a co-owner of a website that sells firearms and firearm accessories. Mr. Melchior said that in recent days he had been contacted by many young people who felt that the swell of calls for stricter gun laws did not represent their views. |
| “We’re marching for the safety, security and protection of the children,” he said, adding that he supports arming teachers and fortifying schools and has developed a school safety program he hopes will be adopted by administrators. | “We’re marching for the safety, security and protection of the children,” he said, adding that he supports arming teachers and fortifying schools and has developed a school safety program he hopes will be adopted by administrators. |
| Some supporters of gun rights in Vermont said they were not planning to hold counterdemonstrations during Saturday’s march. | Some supporters of gun rights in Vermont said they were not planning to hold counterdemonstrations during Saturday’s march. |
| “Most times counterprotesting looks bad, especially counterprotesting kids that want to feel safe in school,” said Jace Laquerre, a student at the University of Vermont who has spoken out in support of gun rights. “We agree with their message to feel safe in school, we just have different solutions is all.” | “Most times counterprotesting looks bad, especially counterprotesting kids that want to feel safe in school,” said Jace Laquerre, a student at the University of Vermont who has spoken out in support of gun rights. “We agree with their message to feel safe in school, we just have different solutions is all.” |
| Mr. Laquerre said he was still planning to appear on CNN on Saturday with survivors of the Parkland shooting. | Mr. Laquerre said he was still planning to appear on CNN on Saturday with survivors of the Parkland shooting. |
| Mr. Trump has grappled publicly with how to respond after the Parkland shooting. | Mr. Trump has grappled publicly with how to respond after the Parkland shooting. |
| He emerged from an emotionally raw meeting with students, as well as parents of those who were killed, appearing moved. Days later, he declared: “We have to have action. We don’t have any action.” | He emerged from an emotionally raw meeting with students, as well as parents of those who were killed, appearing moved. Days later, he declared: “We have to have action. We don’t have any action.” |
| But in March, he quickly abandoned a brief promise to work for gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association. He has also discussed measures such as arming teachers and reopening mental institutions to prevent school shootings. | But in March, he quickly abandoned a brief promise to work for gun control measures opposed by the National Rifle Association. He has also discussed measures such as arming teachers and reopening mental institutions to prevent school shootings. |
| On Friday, he criticized Mr. Obama over bump stocks, an accessory that can make a semiautomatic weapon fire more rapidly, in tweeting about the Justice Department’s move. | On Friday, he criticized Mr. Obama over bump stocks, an accessory that can make a semiautomatic weapon fire more rapidly, in tweeting about the Justice Department’s move. |
| “As I promised, today the Department of Justice will issue the rule banning BUMP STOCKS with a mandated comment period,” he wrote. “We will BAN all devices that turn legal weapons into illegal machine guns.” | “As I promised, today the Department of Justice will issue the rule banning BUMP STOCKS with a mandated comment period,” he wrote. “We will BAN all devices that turn legal weapons into illegal machine guns.” |
| Among the demonstrations planned for this weekend are small events in Hong Kong and Tokyo, two Asian cities where guns are highly restricted and shootings are rare. | Among the demonstrations planned for this weekend are small events in Hong Kong and Tokyo, two Asian cities where guns are highly restricted and shootings are rare. |
| Americans living there said they still felt connected to the events in the United States and wanted to express solidarity with the people demonstrating for stronger gun laws. | Americans living there said they still felt connected to the events in the United States and wanted to express solidarity with the people demonstrating for stronger gun laws. |
| Marney Schaumann, who has lived abroad for about 10 years, previously lived in Parkland, less than a mile from Stoneman Douglas. | Marney Schaumann, who has lived abroad for about 10 years, previously lived in Parkland, less than a mile from Stoneman Douglas. |
| A friend who still lives in Parkland asked if she would help organize a march overseas, and Ms. Schaumann found other volunteers through a local Facebook group for a short march Sunday in the Central district of Hong Kong Island. | A friend who still lives in Parkland asked if she would help organize a march overseas, and Ms. Schaumann found other volunteers through a local Facebook group for a short march Sunday in the Central district of Hong Kong Island. |
| “Even though we live abroad, we still love and care for our country and the students there,” she said. | “Even though we live abroad, we still love and care for our country and the students there,” she said. |
| On Saturday in Tokyo, dozens of protesters gathered near the Shibuya train station with signs bearing the names of people who have been killed by gun violence. Participants, many of them American, took turns reading poems or sharing their memories of family members or friends killed in shootings. | |
| “Even though I cannot physically be there, I want to support and to be able to help to start a dialogue,” said Mallory Walker, who is from Arkansas and has lived in Tokyo for eight months. | “Even though I cannot physically be there, I want to support and to be able to help to start a dialogue,” said Mallory Walker, who is from Arkansas and has lived in Tokyo for eight months. |
| Linda Gould, an American in Japan who organized the Tokyo vigil, said, “I think it is important not just to call for changes to our gun laws, not just to debate the subtleties of the Second Amendment, but to remember that it is people who have died because of our gun laws.” | Linda Gould, an American in Japan who organized the Tokyo vigil, said, “I think it is important not just to call for changes to our gun laws, not just to debate the subtleties of the Second Amendment, but to remember that it is people who have died because of our gun laws.” |
| And in Nagoya, Japan, Mieko Hattori, the mother of Yoshihiro Hattori, a Japanese exchange student who was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, La., in the early 1990s, said that the students had inspired her. | And in Nagoya, Japan, Mieko Hattori, the mother of Yoshihiro Hattori, a Japanese exchange student who was shot and killed in Baton Rouge, La., in the early 1990s, said that the students had inspired her. |
| “I just wanted to convey our message: We support you from Japan,” Ms. Hattori said. | “I just wanted to convey our message: We support you from Japan,” Ms. Hattori said. |