This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43526413

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
March For Our Lives: Huge gun-control rallies sweep US March For Our Lives: Huge gun-control rallies sweep US
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across the US to call for tighter gun control.Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across the US to call for tighter gun control.
The March For Our Lives movement was formed after a high-school shooting in Parkland, Florida last month. The March For Our Lives movement arose after 17 deaths in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, last month.
Student leader and Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez gave a powerful speech at the main Washington DC event.Student leader and Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez gave a powerful speech at the main Washington DC event.
She listed the names of the 17 victims - and then stayed silent on stage for six minutes, 20 seconds - the time it took for them to be shot and killed. After listing the names of the victims, she stayed silent on stage for six minutes, 20 seconds - the time it took for them to be killed.
More than 800 sister protests were planned nationwide and abroad, with solidarity events taking place in Edinburgh, London, Geneva, Sydney and Tokyo.More than 800 sister protests were planned nationwide and abroad, with solidarity events taking place in Edinburgh, London, Geneva, Sydney and Tokyo.
Participants want to seize on public outrage in the wake of the 14 February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland to convince US politicians to finally take decisive action, including by banning the sale of assault weapons. How did this start?
However, the issue divides Americans. The right to bear arms is protected under the 2nd amendment of the US constitution and the National Rifle Association (NRA) gun lobby remains highly influential. The 14 February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland was one of a long line of school shootings in the US but the worst since Sandy Hook in 2012.
President Donald Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for the weekend. Campaiging by Parkland students gained widespread support, with Ms Gonzalez one of the most outspoken figures, gaining more than a million Twitter followers in a matter of weeks.
Survivors of other shootings have also joined the movement, alongside relatives of gun violence victims and anyone moved by their stories.
The students staged a nationwide school walk-out earlier this month.
They want to seize on public outrage to convince US politicians to take decisive action such as banning the sale of assault weapons.
How much support do they have?
Although the turnout during Saturday's marches has been huge, the issue still divides Americans.
The right to bear arms is protected under the 2nd amendment of the US constitution and the National Rifle Association (NRA) gun lobby remains highly influential.
On Saturday afternoon, the White House released a statement praising the "many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today".On Saturday afternoon, the White House released a statement praising the "many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today".
It also cited steps it is taking to tackle gun violence, including banning bump stocks, plus enacting the STOP School Violence Act, which seeks to improve school security and increase training for students, staff and local law enforcement. It outlined steps the government is taking to tackle gun violence:
There are also plans to improve criminal background records so gun buyers are properly vetted before making a purchase. Some protesters were disappointed that President Donald Trump, who is at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for the weekend, did not personally tweet a message of support during the protests.
Organisers predicted participation from up to half a million people in Washington DC, which would make it the largest protest since last year's women's march. What happened in Washington?
Singers Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind hit musical Hamilton, have performed on a stage erected in front of the US Capitol building. Huge crowds - including a high proportion of young people and children - gathered along Pennsylvania Avenue, with placards reading "Protect kids not guns" and "Am I next?".
The music has been interspersed with impassioned youth leaders calling for change, including 17-year-old Edna Chavez, whose brother was shot and killed in a south Los Angeles neighbourhood where, she said, it was normal to see flowers and tributes on the streets. Singers Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind hit musical Hamilton, performed on a stage erected in front of the US Capitol building.
The music was interspersed with speeches from impassioned youth leaders.
"We will continue to fight for our dead friends," said speaker Delaney Tarr, a Parkland student."We will continue to fight for our dead friends," said speaker Delaney Tarr, a Parkland student.
Some speeches came from children who are just 11 years old, including Naomi Wadler, from Virginia, who spoke "to represent African-American girls whose stories don't make the front page of every national newspaper". Some came from children who are just 11 years old, including Naomi Wadler, from Virginia, who spoke "to represent African-American girls whose stories don't make the front page of every national newspaper".
The BBC's Jon Sopel in Washington says the protesters there have strung out lines of photographs of students and teachers killed in school shootings.
A demonstration has also been held in Parkland, with relatives of the victims speaking to crowds.
'My lost soulmate''My lost soulmate'
By Marianna Brady, BBC News, WashingtonBy Marianna Brady, BBC News, Washington
The crowds started to gather in the early hours of the morning outside the US Capitol. Chants for "no more NRA" and "no more guns" erupt every few minutes at random.The crowds started to gather in the early hours of the morning outside the US Capitol. Chants for "no more NRA" and "no more guns" erupt every few minutes at random.
"He was my soulmate," said Victoria Gonzalez, looking down at a sign of her boyfriend Joaquin Oliver."He was my soulmate," said Victoria Gonzalez, looking down at a sign of her boyfriend Joaquin Oliver.
Valentine's Day - 14 February - started off as a great day for Victoria. "Joaquin and I exchanged gifts in the morning and he walked me to class. I was so happy."Valentine's Day - 14 February - started off as a great day for Victoria. "Joaquin and I exchanged gifts in the morning and he walked me to class. I was so happy."
Later that day, she would learn that Joaquin was one of 17 people shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas school.Later that day, she would learn that Joaquin was one of 17 people shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas school.
"It wasn't real. It's taken a while for it to sink in. I'm here today so no-one ever has to face this again," she said, standing in a crowd of several thousand ahead of the march. "It wasn't real," she said, standing in a crowd of several thousand ahead of the march.
"It gives me a lot of hope seeing how many people are out here supporting us. It feels like the whole entire world is on our side," Victoria said. "It's taken a while for it to sink in. I'm here today so no-one ever has to face this again. It gives me a lot of hope seeing how many people are out here supporting us. It feels like the whole entire world is on our side," Victoria said.
Families of the victims of the 1996 school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland, also joined a solidarity demonstration outside the US consulate in Edinburgh. How did other cities join in?
In London, several hundred people gathered outside the new US embassy in Vauxhall, carrying placards addressed to US politicians and the NRA, saying "protect kids not guns" and "books not bullets". The crowd was a mix of US immigrants and allies. There were protests all across the nation, from New York and Los Angeles to Houston and Anchorage, Alaska.
A demonstration was also held in Parkland, with relatives of the victims speaking to crowds.
In Scotland, families affected by the 1996 school shooting in Dunblane gathered a solidarity gathering outside the US consulate in Edinburgh.
In London, several hundred people - a mix of US immigrants and allies - also met at the new US embassy in Vauxhall.
What other steps have been taken since Parkland?
The state of Florida passed a gun control law that raises the legal age for buying rifles but also allows the arming of school staff. The NRA sued the state, saying the law was unconstitutional
Several major companies cut ties with the NRA amid a #BoycottNRA campaign, while chains like Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods announced new restrictions on gun sales.
Some 69% of Americans think gun laws should be tightened, according to a new poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, up from 61% in October 2016.Some 69% of Americans think gun laws should be tightened, according to a new poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, up from 61% in October 2016.
What's happened since Parkland?