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Live Updates on March for Our Lives as Students Protest Guns March for Our Lives Updates: Chants of ‘Enough Is Enough’ at Huge Rallies on Guns
(35 minutes later)
Tens of thousands of protesters, outraged by a recent massacre at a South Florida school and energized by the students who survived, are thronging streets across the globe in public protests on Saturday, demanding action against gun violence in their most ambitious show of force yet. Hundreds thousands of protesters, outraged by a recent massacre at a South Florida school and energized by the students who survived, are thronging streets across the globe in public protests on Saturday, demanding action against gun violence in their most ambitious show of force yet.
In New York, marchers bundled in bright orange — the official color of a gun control advocacy group — charged toward Central Park. In Washington, protesters held signs with the messages “Arms Are for Hugging” and Never Again.” And in Parkland, Fla., less than a mile from where the shooting took place, one protester’s eyes brimmed with tears, surrounded by the echoing chant, “Enough is enough!” In New York, marchers bundled in bright orange — the official color of a gun control advocacy group — charged toward Central Park. In Washington, protesters held signs with the messages “Arms Are for Hugging” and “Never Again.” And in Parkland, Fla., less than a mile from where the shooting took place, one protester’s eyes brimmed with tears, surrounded by the echoing chant, “Enough is enough!”
By late morning, counterprotests were also gaining steam. In Salt Lake City, demonstrators carried pistols, flags and toddlers swaddled in blankets. One of their signs read: “What can we do to stop mass shootings? SHOOT BACK.” In Boston, opposing groups of protesters shouted at one another before the police intervened.By late morning, counterprotests were also gaining steam. In Salt Lake City, demonstrators carried pistols, flags and toddlers swaddled in blankets. One of their signs read: “What can we do to stop mass shootings? SHOOT BACK.” In Boston, opposing groups of protesters shouted at one another before the police intervened.
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. Check out photos from around the world, and a map of planned protests.
• The National Park Service has approved a permit for the Washington march that estimates 500,000 people could attend. Called March for Our Lives, the main event there kicks off around midday, and 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.• The National Park Service has approved a permit for the Washington march that estimates 500,000 people could attend. Called March for Our Lives, the main event there kicks off around midday, and 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.
• The student leaders who organized the day’s events, 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 effectiveness of the students’ efforts will be measured, in part, on the success of the demonstrations.• The student leaders who organized the day’s events, 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 effectiveness of the students’ efforts will be measured, in part, on the success of the demonstrations.
• On Saturday, the White House said in a statement, “We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today.” 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.• On Saturday, the White House said in a statement, “We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today.” 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.
• Counterprotests in support of gun rights were planned in cities including Salt Lake City, Greenville, S.C., and Helena, Mont.• Counterprotests in support of gun rights were 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 calls for “a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues.” The student activists want to emphasize they are are a group that will soon have access to the ballot box, as they hope to build support for candidates who support universal background checks and bans on assault-style weapons.
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.” Huge majorities of Americans say they support gun control measures like universal background checks. Yet when put directly to the people in a referendum in recent years, the results have been mixed. Here is a look at what polling, and recent referendums, reveal about the political challenges that face the student-led activists.
Several of the Stoneman Douglas students have spent the last few days meeting with political leaders. “What we’re doing is because we’re not scared of these adults,” said Jaclyn Corin, 17, a Stoneman Doulgas junior and lead organizer, “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.”
Jaclyn Corin, 17, a junior and lead organizer, 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. 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 was a show of strength for a group that will soon have access to the ballot box — something marchers wanted 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.”
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 Parkland on Saturday, Sari Kaufman, a Stoneman Douglas sophomore, urged everyone to “turn this moment into a movement” that would toss out of office any politician who took money from the National Rifle Association.In Parkland on Saturday, Sari Kaufman, a Stoneman Douglas sophomore, urged everyone to “turn this moment into a movement” that would toss out of office any politician who took money from the National Rifle Association.
“They think we’re all talk and no action,” she said to loud applause and cheers, and urged the crowd to prove politicians wrong by voting in huge numbers.“They think we’re all talk and no action,” she said to loud applause and cheers, and urged the crowd to prove politicians wrong by voting in huge numbers.
“Remember that policy change is not nearly as difficult as losing a loved one,” she said. “Don’t just go out and vote: Get 17 other people to go out and vote.”“Remember that policy change is not nearly as difficult as losing a loved one,” she said. “Don’t just go out and vote: Get 17 other people to go out and vote.”
Huge majorities of Americans say they support gun control measures like universal background checks. Yet when put directly to the people in a referendum in recent years, the results have been mixed. Here is a look at what polling, and recent referendums, reveal about the political challenges that face the student-led activists. The Washington march also drew 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.
In Washington, a cluster of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas students and parents chanted: “Who are we? M.S.D.! What are we? M.S.D. Strong!” “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.”
Jodi Klein, whose oldest daughter, Jessica, graduated from the high school in 2008, said she was “pumped” by the crowds.Jodi Klein, whose oldest daughter, Jessica, graduated from the high school in 2008, said she was “pumped” by the crowds.
“Remember this is the way we got the vote, marching in the streets,” said Ms. Klein, 58, of Coral Springs, Fla. Asked what was different about the Parkland shooting, Ms. KleinKlein, 58, of Coral Springs, Fla. said: “They went after educated kids that can fight back. My daughter was on the debate team. They taught these kids to speak out.”
Asked what was different about the Parkland shooting, Ms. Klein said: “They went after educated kids that can fight back. My daughter was on the debate team. They taught these kids to speak out.”
“This is bit strange to them,” she added, pointing to the crowds. “Death is strange to them.”“This is bit strange to them,” she added, pointing to the crowds. “Death is strange to them.”
Beth Kurtz, 33, a lawyer who works with kids in foster care in Washington, was waiting for the bus on 16th Street and carrying a large yellow sign that said, “Kids Deserve to Feel Safe.” In the lobby of a Marriott hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, blocks from the rally, Emily Weingarten, 19, was midsentence, describing her hometown of Parkland, Fla., when she saw a Stoneman Doulgas teacher walk through the lobby.
Ms. Kurtz said she had come with specific demands: a ban on assault rifles and much more rigorous background checks, possibly carried out entirely by the federal government.
“There’s no reason why a civilian needs a weapon of war,” Ms. Kurtz said.
In the lobby of a Marriott hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, blocks from the rally, Emily Weingarten, 19, was midsentence, describing her hometown of Parkland, Fla., when she saw a teacher from Stoneman Douglas walk through the lobby.
It was the first time Ms. Weingarten had seen her former history teacher, Ivy Schamis, in person since the shooting.It was the first time Ms. Weingarten had seen her former history teacher, Ivy Schamis, in person since the shooting.
She ran to her, joining three other students in an emotional hug.She ran to her, joining three other students in an emotional hug.
“I’m so happy to see you,” Ms. Schamis said. “Look at my shirt,” she added, proudly stretching a gray March for Our Lives shirt. “I’m so happy to see you,” Ms. Schamis said.
“Her strength being here, laughing with us, is incredible,” Ms. Weingarten said later. “It’s such a horrible reason to reunite but it’s beautiful.”“Her strength being here, laughing with us, is incredible,” Ms. Weingarten said later. “It’s such a horrible reason to reunite but it’s beautiful.”
Sayem Hussein, an 18-year-old high school senior at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, 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.”
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 through that.”
Mr. Papanier said he supported raising the gun-buying age to at least 21, from 18.
The Washington march drew many survivors of mass shootings. It also drew 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.”
Gun owners staged marches of their own.
In Salt Lake City, more than 100 people had gathered to show support for gun rights. They brought pistols, flags and carried signs that said “What can we do to stop mass shootings? SHOOT BACK.”
Many said they came to honor the 17 people who died in Parkland. In their view, students will only be safer when there are more firearms in schools.
Brandon McKee stood with a pistol on his belt. His daughter Kendall, 11, held a sign: “criminals love gun control.”
Mr. McKee said that he was there to defend all rights, not just gun rights, and that he believed potential firearm restrictions would chip away at American democracy.
“I believe it’s their goal to unarm America, and that’s why we’re here today,” he said of the Washington marchers. “We’re not going to stand idly by and let them tell us what we can and cannot do.”
As the crowd thickened before a rally in front of the Trump International Hotel and Tower near Columbus Circle in Manhattan, Mary Ann Jacobs, 55, of Sandy Hook, Conn., milled in the crowd with her husband.As the crowd thickened before a rally in front of the Trump International Hotel and Tower near Columbus Circle in Manhattan, Mary Ann Jacobs, 55, of Sandy Hook, Conn., milled in the crowd with her husband.
Ms. Jacobs was a library clerk during the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She barricaded herself in the school’s library, “in a closet hidden behind file cabinets” along with 18 fourth-graders.Ms. Jacobs was a library clerk during the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She barricaded herself in the school’s library, “in a closet hidden behind file cabinets” along with 18 fourth-graders.
“In the months after the shooting it took 100 percent of my personal focus to get up and go to work every day to take care of my surviving students,” she said. “One of the things that happens in our communities is that the survivors of gun violence have zero help.”“In the months after the shooting it took 100 percent of my personal focus to get up and go to work every day to take care of my surviving students,” she said. “One of the things that happens in our communities is that the survivors of gun violence have zero help.”
Thousands of demonstrators, many wearing bright orange, traveled toward Central Park, filling the subways on their way to the march.
Mara Kleinberg, a high school senior at Churchill Center and School in Manhattan, wore an orange quilted parka and camouflage pants, and carried a sign asking why she should be protesting for her safety instead of learning.Mara Kleinberg, a high school senior at Churchill Center and School in Manhattan, wore an orange quilted parka and camouflage pants, and carried a sign asking why she should be protesting for her safety instead of learning.
Ms. Kleinberg, 17, said she was looking forward to voting so she could back elected officials who support gun control. “I’m happy that I can vote finally and I hope this movement brings a lot more voters into American politics,” she said.Ms. Kleinberg, 17, said she was looking forward to voting so she could back elected officials who support gun control. “I’m happy that I can vote finally and I hope this movement brings a lot more voters into American politics,” she said.
She added that she had first become aware of the issue after Sandy Hook. As a voter, she said, “I’ll be looking for a lot more regulation: raising the age limit, making sure the kids can’t get guns. It’s kids’ brains that are still developing.”She added that she had first become aware of the issue after Sandy Hook. As a voter, she said, “I’ll be looking for a lot more regulation: raising the age limit, making sure the kids can’t get guns. It’s kids’ brains that are still developing.”
Sayem Hussein, an 18-year-old high school senior at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, 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.”
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 through that.”
Mr. Papanier said he supported raising the gun-buying age to at least 21, from 18.
More than 100 people, some with pistols and flags, gathered to show support for gun rights in Salt Lake City. They carried signs that said: “What can we do to stop mass shootings? SHOOT BACK.”
Many said they came to honor those who died in Parkland. In their view, students will only be safer when there are more firearms in schools.
Brandon McKee had a pistol on his belt. His daughter Kendall, 11, held a sign: “criminals love gun control.” Mr. McKee said he was there to defend all rights, not just gun rights, and that he believed potential firearm restrictions would be the beginning of a chipping away at American democracy.
“I believe it’s their goal to unarm America, and that’s why we’re here today,” he said of the Washington marchers. “We’re not going to stand idly by and let them tell us what we can and cannot do.”
In Boston, a clutch of Second Amendment supporters gathered in front of the statehouse with signs that said, “Come and take it.”
“We believe in the Second Amendment,” said Paul Allen, 62, a retired construction worker who lives in Salisbury, Mass. “You people will interpret it the way you want and we’ll interpret it for what it is — that law-abiding citizens who are true patriots have the right to bear arms.”
Mr. Allen described those supporters of gun control as “ignorant sheep who are being spoon-fed by liberal teachers.”
“They haven’t read the Constitution and they don’t know what it means,” he said.
The leaders of the National Rifle Association 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.The leaders of the National Rifle Association 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.
In Salt Lake City, a rally for gun rights will begin just before the rally for gun control. Both marches will follow a similar 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 he had recently been contacted by many young people who felt that the 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.
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 in support of gun rights. “We agree with their message to feel safe in school, we just have different solutions is all.”
A week after the Parkland shooting, President Trump 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.”A week after the Parkland shooting, President Trump 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 N.R.A. 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 N.R.A. 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.
Among the demonstrations planned were small events in Hong Kong and Tokyo, where guns are highly restricted and shootings are rare. On Saturday in Tokyo, where guns are highly restricted and shootings are rare, dozens of protesters gathered 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.
Americans living there said they wanted to express solidarity with those in the United States demonstrating for stronger gun laws.
On Saturday in Tokyo, dozens of protesters gathered 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.
In Rome, demonstrators jammed the sidewalk across from the American Embassy, raising their voice in chants of “hey hey, ho ho, the N.R.A. has got to go” and waving signs that read, “A Gun Is Not Fun” and “Am I Next?”In Rome, demonstrators jammed the sidewalk across from the American Embassy, raising their voice in chants of “hey hey, ho ho, the N.R.A. has got to go” and waving signs that read, “A Gun Is Not Fun” and “Am I Next?”
The speakers at the rally included local students but also Valentina and Gabriella Zuniga, a freshman and junior at Stoneman Douglas, who were on spring break.The speakers at the rally included local students but also Valentina and Gabriella Zuniga, a freshman and junior at Stoneman Douglas, who were on spring break.
“We knew there were rallies all over the world, and we looked for one in Rome,” said Gabriella, 16, adding that her life had changed drastically since the shooting. “You go into class and see empty desks. It’s different for everyone now.”“We knew there were rallies all over the world, and we looked for one in Rome,” said Gabriella, 16, adding that her life had changed drastically since the shooting. “You go into class and see empty desks. It’s different for everyone now.”
Near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, 150 to 200 people, most of them Americans, held signs saying “bullets aren’t school supplies” and “Waffeln statt Waffen” (Waffles Instead of Weapons).
Dylan von Felbert, 16, an 11th grader at the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, said, “Our generation can be very apathetic — myself included — so I think it’s important to support those things you really believe in.”