♪ amy: this is democracy now! i am amy goodman.. wewe are briringing yoyou a spel broadcast. we are in washington, d.c., giving you a special for our marchroadcast from the for our lives. hundreds of thousands of people

have come to the nation's capital, inspired by -- this is organized by the student marjorys of the stoneman douglas high school, the mass shooting that's a place on valentine's day, where 17 people, 14 students, were killed by a shooter with an assault rifle. the demand here by the students -- their manifesto includes weaponssemiautomatic that fire high velocity rounds, then accessories that simulate automatic weapons, universal background checks, changing privacy loss to let mental health care providers communicate with law enforcement , opposing gun shows and secondhand loopholes. are taking marches place across the country in solidarity -- and solidarity marches across the globe. terry on democracy now!, you will hear the voices -- today on democracy now!, you will hear

the voices. 17 people will speak in honor of the 17 killed. and you will hear the people killed on the streets. this is democracy now! >> my name is breanna fisher. sophomore, and i am a staff writer for our newspaper. >> i am a sophomore at marjory stoneman douglas, and i am also a staff writer. >> i am 15 years old. i am also a staff writer for the "eagle eye" magazine. amy: let's start with you. that unbelievable day, valentine's day. a massacre at your school. you are a reporter, a student. talk about your thoughts as a journalist. >> that was a really hard day. it took me a couple weeks the kind of feeeel a little uplifted

again. i know i had to report on it. as a journalist, it is important to cover what i went through, so that others know, and speak up for the voices that we lost that day. amy: and where were you? >> well, i feel like if there is ananyone to report on this, it s us. because we witnessed everything firsthand. that day, the day of the shooting, where were you in school? >> i was in my chemistry class at the time. amy: was in the building? >> not in the freshman building, but the building next to it. amy: when did you come to understand what was happening? >> i do not think i still understand what is happening. it has not really hit me yet what is happening. you hear about schools like sandy hook and columbine, and

you do not want to imagine your school being on the same list as those. i do not think it has hit any of us yet, that it actually happened. amy: did your school, your building, lock down right away? >> yeah. >> yeah. toi think everyone went their location of where they had to lock down in -- >> chaotic. >> it was really chaotic. amy: where were you? world history ap classroom, in the back of the school. kind of the furthest from the building where the shooting happened, so i was able to evacuate and leave during that day. but i still think it is so crazy that while i was able to evacuate, other people were not. i still do not think i have been able to come to terms with what is happening, because i went home that night and saw the news. this is my school, and this is the first thing that comes up instead of our school website or the environmental activists at marjory stoneman douglas.

amy: talk about when you moved into journalism. you have done so much in this month. did you all just edit the "guardian" newspaper? >> yet. the opportunity was given to us. it was as reporting on it, it should be. amy: we are going to walk outside of this area, bringing the students with us. they will get their things. we are in the midst of this interview, but that is the way it goes on this day of the march for our lives. these are three students, journalists, from marjory stoneman douglas high school, and here they come. again, your names. >> my name is breanna fisher, a sophomore at marjory stoneman douglas. amy: so you all have the opportunity -- >> we're trying to get leni and zoe. leni, could you come for one

sec? thank you. so you were talking about editing the "guardian" newspaper. what does it mean for you? you are a sophomore? >> i am also a sophomore. it is an amazing opportunity. an amazing publication. it was an honor to work on , to show the true side of journalism. it is great they are letting us use their platform and to speak out and share our voices. that is not just parkland, florida, but to the rest of the world. amy: what sign are you carrying? "on made a sign -- it saysys february 14, i should have been studying for world history. instead, i was praying the shooter would not come into my classroom next." it is kind of impactful. the other side says "here is an equation for you -- love over

guns." both are kind of very meaningful for me and very impactful, especially the first one, because it is my story. i was planning to go home that day so i could study for my big ap test the next day. i was stressed out. after i finish my math lesson, i was reaching into my back to get my world history textbook to start studying right when everything was happening. so crazy. amy: that was a month ago. here we are, march 24, the march for our lives, that was started by you. started by you, the sophomores, the juniors, and the senior survivors at marjory stoneman douglas high school. who is your school name for? >> he is actually an environmental activist for the

everglades. amy: so she is actually in an activist -- an activist. >> yes. she really set the goal for us. amy: and what are you demanding on this day? >> change. it does not matter how long we get there. as long as there is change. >> we do not want to go to school fearing our lives. amy: w what are your thoughts on what happened in the florida legislature, clearly a pro-gun legislature for so many years. what happened there, and what about your congress, the u.s. congress in washington? >> we have seen some change. ever since then, we have seen in age go up from 18 to 21 our state to buy a gun. amy: not quite here yet in washington. >> not yet. >> and background checks. we still have a long way to go, but i know it is the babysat --

baby steps that will take us to the end goal. >> in two or three years, we are the voters. we know their names and their positions, and we will vote them out. they need to know that. amy: are you considering running yourself? >> no, i am going to head down the journalism route. more into a go career of politics. i want to become a criminal prosecutor. i would see know if myself in the senate, but definitely having some influence and that we can have some change. amy: your thoughts on the shooter today? >> we do not like to discuss it. >> he does not deserve any more media attention or any attention at all. amy: and what you're demanding off congress right now and the president of the united states -- one of the things he said has called for the arming of teachers. your thoughts? >> i do not like that at all. >> the whole point is to limit

guns. not want to be locked into environment with more guns. >> there are a whole things that do make that do not make sense. there, in the is gun is locked up in the closet, there is no time to get the gun. >> adding fire to fire is not going to make any change. it is crazy. at all.t practical they do not have the funding for it either. not give, they could us paper for two weeks to get how are they supposed to give each teacher of gun? it does not make sense. amy: you will be marching up a front of this rally today and speaking on the stage. what is happening at the end, with 17 people standing up? >> we do not know -- >> not sure. actually, we will be in the douglas section.

because for our newspaper, we are also reporting. we will be talking to people. people who are speaking, the celebrities, so we are not sure of the physical plan of the march. we will just be right in the front the whole time, experiencing everything -- >> alongside our fellow staff and faculty. amy: and you had back to florida tomorrow? >> right after the march. amy: to go back to school on monday? >> no, actually, it is spring break. amy: what was it like to return to school? >> it actually felt somewhat nice, because you felt the outpouring of love from the entire country, not just local schools, but literally every single one. i love seeing my teachers again. even though it is hard going to classes where some of my classmates that unfortunately -- it waske it out hard, but it was so nice being the ones that were there. >> i needed to go to school, make sure my teachers were ok

and my fellow classmates were ok. there is so much we can do. i just need to care for them. even though it is not normal, i needed that sense of normality and being able to work to take my mind off of things. thee really needed to rip band-aid off, because if we did not go back to school then, when would we have? eventually, we have our new normal. amy: as journalists, here your covering gun violence. often, it is raised that when there is gun violence in a mainly white community, it gets a lot more attention than in communities of color. are children of color killed by guns proportionally than any other group. your thoughts on this and how you cover this? >> as part of the "eagle eye," we are trying to get more people from the black lives movement to

raise their voices in this as well so it is set -- so everyone has a voice. we are really just trying to give everyone a voice. >> the "guardian" is speaking to some people in that community and allowing them to help write pieces, so it is a great deal to write their issues. >> this is a platform for anyone. if anyone wants to speak about this, it touches and affects everyone in their own way. it is a platform for everyone. zoe, thankbrianna, you. and our condolences and enormous praise for what you are doing today. this is democracy now! you are seeing for young people, young journalists, from the marjory stoneman douglas high school. marjory stoneman douglas was a pioneer. she was a suffragette. she was one of the woman who helped save, the key figure, in

saving the everglades. that is who their school is named after. this is democracy now! i am amy goodman, broadcasting from the march for our lives, washington, d.c. 800 sibling marches all over the country. ♪ >> god bless you all. to rise up, stand up. are you ready? please give it up for the baltimore choir. ♪ you have all the money in

your hands all the possessions that anyone can ever have worth it is -- ask for what you got in your heart you can have you can have every day met is in it all means nothing you got to stand up for something you got a be somewhere be somewhere ♪ >> ♪ the greater plans

the creator plans this all rhymes like the state began reach out and touch let the ways of love be though way of man stay awake a president -- i stand for peace, love, and women's rights ♪ mean nothing if you don't care for something you got to walk it all day it don't mean nothing if you'd don't stand for something stand up for you

yeah up for you and i stand up for you ♪ >> ♪ stand up against gun violence ♪ ♪ god bless you all. >> god bless you. high school.ouglas >> what is going on? >> someone is shootingng at the school >> breaking news. policece say issued a, belieievo be 19 years old, open fire in his high school. a heartbreaking day in florida and sadly all too familiar. >> how many to o -- comedy

studenents are going to have to because politicians refuse to take action? >> this happen so many times, and semi-times, it is just prayers. >> our prarayers go out. >> icons offer the love and prayers of the nation. >> at the white house, the victims and famamilies constanty in our thoughts and prayers. >> the adults will be out. you are either with us or against us, at this point. >> high school students are refusing to let thoughts and prayayers be the end of the sto. >> students are excited to walk out of their schools. >> hundreds of students coming outside -- >> these are student organized events. >> why is no one in washington doing anything? >> we are chihildren. you guys are e the adults. you needed to take somee action. jake a a i do not t want to do this gun control discussion right now. >> this is s not a timeme for t.

>> issued at our school obtained weapapons that he used on us legally. check out in not think he should have gotten his hands on any kind of weapon. >> you think i it is too easy to get a gun? do something about this. >> we knknow this type of weapos has been usesed in other shootings. >> you cannot just walk into a building witith $130 and walk ot with an ir 15. >> we are tired of b being kill. >> we artired beieing kled. >> h easy is itoto buyhis pe o of weon?? >> it nothehe weapo it is ththe evil from within. >> the thoughts and prayers are really the only thing that will stop the evil in the individual. at the florida state capital for the second day in a row. >> the more they do not act, the more they do not deserve to be in office. >> these kids who are fighting, showing us what makes america

great, they will take care of it, if no one else comes. now youou tell us rhtht willotot accept a a single donation from the nra? >> do we allow the children to tell us that we should ssss a law w th says no homework?k? >> the adults make the law because they have -- we have the wisdom and experience. >> politics -- we call b.s. less wiwill accept nothing than comprehensive gun control. >> we cannot say thoughts and prayers s for two weeks and hava geoeye before the next shohootig a school shooting cocomes up, because this is real. >> i would like to take a moment to again send our thoughts and prayers. >> good afternoon.

to t the leadersrs, skeptics, ad cycynics who told us to sit down and stay silent, wait your turn, welcome to the revolution. it is a powerful and peaceful one, because it is of, by, and for the e young people of thisis country. my name is cameron. since this movement began, people have asked me, do you think any changes going to come from this? look around. wewe are the change. everyone here is standing with the future of our society. for that, i thank you. my generation, having spent our entire lives seeing mass shooting after mass shooting, have shown that our votes matter. we must educate ourselves and start conversations that keep our country movingng forward. to create aomise

better world for generations to come. don't worry. we got this. ththe people of this country now see past the lies. corruptfirst time, the are not controlling our story. we are. the facts. we know the truth. shooting after shooting, the american people now see the one thing they have in common -- the weapons. represent thether people or get out. the people demand a larger lawing the -- demand a banning the sale of assault weapons. the voters are coming. on february 14, tragedy struck

my hometown in my school, marjory stoneman douglas high. -- all lost their lives in less then seveven minutes. i saved nicholas for the end, because today is nicholas' birthday. nicholas, we are all here for you. happy birthday. -- and families endured great pain.. mamany others are injured, and thousands of young people were forced to become adults and were targeted as adults. we have to do this for them. we must stand beside those we have lost and fixed the world up a trade them. this does not just happen in schools. americans are being impacted -- churches, nightclubs, movie

theaters, on the streets. ple, can fix this. for the first time, i i look forward 10 years and see hope, light. a system we can be proud of. it all statarts with you. the march is not the climax of this movement. it is the beginning. my springboard from which generation will jump into a safer future. today is a bad day for tyranny and corruption. today, we take to the streets in over 800 marchers around the globe and stand for common sense gun laws. today is the b beginning of a bright, new future for this country. if you think today is good, just wait for tomorrow. andust protect, educate, inspire the future. everyone here is proof we will do that, and the future is looking very bright for this country. thank you. [cheers]

>> good morning. everyone, repeat after me -- every daday s shootings are everybody proud -- everyday shootings are everyday problems. >> everyday shootings are everyday problems. >> everyday shootings -- >> everyday shootings -- >> are everyday problems. >> are everyday problems. >> i am here with the brave, new leaders, on behalf of chicago youth effect did by gun violence every day -- affected by gun violence every day. i am here for the use who fear they may be shot while going to gas stations, movie theaters, to church, to and from school.

for the use who feel our voices have been silenced for too long. i am here to speak for everyone who believes a child getting shot and killed in chicago or any other city is an honor norm. most importantly, i am here to speak on behalf of my brother, shot and killed leaving church. just to give you guys a few stats, there have been more than a thousand 550 people shot in killed in chicago, and from tony 12, there have been more than 60,000 people shot. since 2006, there have been more 550 people shot and killed in chicago. numberscts are not just in a speech. these are mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. lawyers, doctors, artists, musicians. these are lives cut short due to

senseless gun violence. epidemic waslent caused by many problems that we are still not dealing with. would you have a city that feels it is more important to pay for the scholars sports comics rather than find impoverished communities, you have gun violence. when you have a city that feels we need more bikes for tourists rather than funding for workforce programs, you have gun violence. when you have an illinois state governor who feels that funding anti-violence programs is "nonessential spending," you have done violence. officialsave elected who feel that getting a few extra dollars from the nra is more important than actual constituents, you have gun violence. and when you have a president that would rather little chicago -- belittle chicago violence

then send resources, you have done violence. it is time for the nation to realize this is an american problem. we are here demanding that this country -- we are here demanding that we get what we, as people of this country, deserve. we deserve a life without fear of being gunned down. we can only get the american dream if we had the proper resources to do so. we need to spend on people to actually live there. it is time to care about all communities equally. time to start judging some communities as worthy or some committees as unworthy. it is time to look at me and my brothers and any others from impoverished communities as no

different from anyone else. it is time for america to know that every day shootings are everyday problems. martin luther king jr. says he must expect finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope. remain hopeful and continued to stand together for the lives we deserve. thank you. [cheers] everyone. oh, my speech. ok. i am here today because i am a marjory stoneman douglas student.

here today forot the media. i'm not here for the crowd, as great as you all are. for the fame or for the fun. i am here on this stage today, and i'm here working everyday for my 17 fellow eagles pronounced dead because of gunfire. i am here for every person that has died at the hands of gun violence and for the many for - more whose lives have been irrevocably changed because of it. i think and hope that is why we are all here. this is more than just a march. it is s more than just one day, one event. this is not a mere publicity stunt, a single day in this band of history. this is a movement. a movement relying on their persistence and passion of its people. [cheers] .e cannot move on if we move on, the nra and those against us will win.

they want us to forget or they want our voices to be silent. they want to retreat into the shadows where they can remain unnoticed. they want to be on top, on questioned in their corruption. we cannot and will not that that happened. today, and every day, we will continue to fight for this rings that are right. we will continue to fight for common sense. we will continue to fight for our lives. we will continue to fight for our dead friends. there will be no faltering, no positive in our cause. every moment will be dedicated to those pieces of legislation. every march, every meeting, every moment, all for that assault weapons ban to keep weapons of war out of the hands of civilians, who do not need them. for the provision of high magazine, because no hunter needs access to a magazine that can kill 17 in mere minutes. [cheers]

all for the reinforcement of background checks and the closing of loopholes, because there needs to be more requirement than just a wad of cash. there are so many very best so many things, so many steps to take. like right now. sign our petition. seconds, and it matters. we will take the day gun the small, but we will keep fighting. when they give us that incnch, that bump stock ban, we will take a mile.' we are not here for breadcrumbs. we are here for change. we are here to lead. we are here to call out every single politician, to force them into enacting this legislation, to addressing legislation, to doing g more than a simple band aid on our broken bones. the pressure is on for every person in power, and it will stay that way. they know what is coming. if there is no soul weapons ban passed, we will vote them out -- no assault weapons ban passed,

we will vote them out. if there is no tightening of the background checks, we will vote them out. we know that if there is no shrinking of magazine capacity, then we will vote them out. continue to ignore us, to only pretended to listen, we will take action where it counts. we will take action every day, in every way, until they simply cannot ignore us anymorere. today, we march, we fight, we roar. we prepare our signs, we raise them high. we know what we want a we know how to get it. and we are not waiting any longer. thank you. [cheers] >> students, this is a lockdown trail. >> -- drillll. >> even if it is a drill, when it is brought to your home, it makes it real. >> we heard gunshots, so we thought it was real.

>> we would try to run away from the attacker. >> i started to think what if this would happen? >> it really brought the reality of the situation to us. >> the weird thing is, it gets me every time. this kind of emergency training should not need to happen in our schools. since e the massacre at c colume high school, more than 150,0 students in at least 170 elementary, middle, and high schools have experienced a shoongng. , beennyny have died injured, and 27% develop posttraumatic stress disorder. this senseless violelence brings terror o on our streets and d h. every day, on average, 96 americans s died. seven of those lies our chchildn and teens. in a presence of a gun

domestic violence situation makes it five times more likely that the womenill be kleled. thisis ian epipimic. this is why we mchch. enough ienough. it is time for a change. never again. ♪ >> hello, everyone. thank you so much for having me. i am so excited to be here. , sharing our voices, so we can be heard together. ♪

-- you can take everything i have everything i have like i'm made of glass like i'm made of paper and though you try to tear me down i will be rising from the ground like a skyscraper

like a skyscraper smokeke clears i/o waken -- i awaken and untangle you from me would it make you feel better to watch me while i bleed all my windows still are broken but i'm standing on my feet you can take everything i have you can break everything i am like i am made of glass like i'm made of paper go on and try to tear me down i will be rising from the ground

like a skyscraper like a skyscraper go run, run, run i'm gonna stay right here watch you disappear yeah oh go run, run, run it's a long way down but i am closer to the clouds up here you can take everything i have you can break everything i am like i'm made of glass like i'm made of paper go on and try to tear me down i will be rising from the ground

like a skyscraper like a skyscraper like a skyscraper like a skyscraper ♪ [cheers] >> msdstrong. thank you.

♪ we had had enough of the lies, listen to money, the hatred, the pettiness, the ignorancece, the fake news, the nra. we a are done with your r agendo undermine the voter's will. >> we are done with your agenda to undermine the safety of the nation's youth and the individual voices of the nation. the role model athletes to alterheir platform and undermine what our flag represents quick walk the politician to it rather watch america burned and lose one

ounce of their personal power -- >> politician who would rather watch america's youth die then get a assault rififles office storee shelves with glenn close who call high schoolers paid crisis actors and refuse to listen -- >> your time is running out. >> your time is running out. >> the clock starts now. >> the clock starts now. [cheers] [applause] >> helello, everyone. my name is sarah chadwick. i am a junior at marjory stoneman douglas high school. this year, $1.05 -- when you 140,167 -- of the number

of students enrolled in florida schools -- and divide it by 3, of moneythe amount marco rubio received from the national rifle association -- [boos] it comes out to $1.05. is that all we are worth to these politicians? $1.05? $17.85, was it all that cost us that day, mr. rubio? i say one life is worth more than all the guns s in america.. [cheers] bluees not a red versus issue. this is a moral issue. and to the politicians that

believe that their right to own a gun the car -- their right to own a gun comes before our lives, get ready to be votod out byby us. the future. we will not allow a price to be put on our lives. we will no longer be hunted down and be treated like prey by politicians who sisily do nott care about u us. we are figighting, we have been fighting. we have been fighting since columbine, since sandy hook, since pulse, since las vegas. and we will continue to fight. until we put a stop to gun violence in america. [cheers] we are no longer statistics in this country. we w will not read treated likea

statistic in this country. my school, pulse, every other bes shooting will no longer a statistic. we will put an end to those statistics. and we will never stop fighting. thank you. >> vote them out. vote them out. vote them out. vote them out. vote them out. vote them out. vote them out.t. vote them out. >> [speaking in spanish] [cheers] my name is edna yvez chavez.

i am from southern los angeles, california. [cheers] senior atyear-old magen arts high school, a member of community coalition, where i am a youth leader at south central. youth empowered through action. [cheers] at community coalition, we organize high school students to develop their leadership skills in order to push for educational justice and our communities. that is why i got involved. i wanted to impact policies and make sure our voices are heard. i am a youth leader. i am a survivor.

south l.a. myn entire life and have lolost many loved ones to gun violence. this is normal -- normal to the point of the i have learned to duck from bullets before i learned how to read. [cheers] my brother, he was in high school when he passed away. it was a day like any other day. sunset going down down off of south-central. use here pops, thinking they are fireworks. they were not pops. you see the melanin in your brother's skin turn gray. ricardo was his name.

can you all say it with me? >> ricardo. >> ricardo, we're here with you. [cheers] >> ricardo. ricrado . ricardo. ricardo. >> i lost morere than my brother that day. i lost my hero. i also lost my mother, my sister, and myself to that trauma and that anxiety. if the bullet did not kill me, that in zaidi and that trauma will -- that anxiety and that trauma will.

i carry that with me everywhere i go. in school. in class. walking home. visiting loved ones. and i am not alone in this experience. for decades, mine community of south los angeles has become accustomed to this violence. it is normal to see candles. it is normal to see posters. it is normal to see balloons. it is normal to see flowers honoring the lives of black and brown youth that have lost their lives to a bullet. how can we cope with it, when our school district has its own police department? instead of making black and brown students feel safe, they continue to profile and criminalize us.

[cheers] inststead, we should have a department specializing in restorative justice. we need to tackle the root causes of the issues we face and come to an understanding on how to resolve them. i am here to honor the florida students that lost their lives and to stand with the parkland students. i am here, today, to honor ricardo. i am here, today, to honor stephon clark. i am here, today, to uplift myself l.a. community -- my south l.a. community. [cheers] enough is enough.

-- how many more have to die until this problem is finally acknowledged? policymakers, listen up. work --chers will not arming teachers will not work. more security in our schools does not work. policies do not work. they make us feel like crimiminals. we should feel empowered and supported in our schools. instead of funding these policies, fund mentorship programs, mental heaealth resources, paid internship and job opportunities. [cheers]

my brother, like many others, would have renovated from this efitted from this. so let's get happen. it is important to work with people impacted by these issues. the people you represent. we need to focus on changing the conditions that foster violence and trauma, and that is how we will transform our communities and uplift our voices.s. [cheers] this has not and shall not stop us. it has only empowered us. chavez.is edna remember my name.

remember these faces. remember us and how we are making a change. [speaking spanish] [cheers] >> my name is alex nguyen, a junior at marjory ststoneman douglas high school. inin the wake of t the tragedy n february 14, we, as s students,s youths, decided if adults were

not going to take action, we would. no gun related legegislatition s been passed in this country since 2008. 10 years ago. since 2008, there have been at least 95 mass shootings in t ths country. and hundreds and thousands more, senseless violence, in the cities of our nation, like chicago and baltimore. it needs to stop. [cheers] people believe the yououth of ts country are insisignificant. people b believe the youth haveo voice. when joan of arc fought back english forces, s she was 17 yes old. when mozart wrote his first symphony, he was 8-years-old. tell us people who teenagers cannot do anything, i say we were the only people who

could have made this movement possible. together, we will use our voices to make sure our schools, churches, movie theaters, concerts, and our streets become safer without having them feel like raisins. if teachers start packing heat, are they going to arm our pastors, ministers, rabbis? are they going to arm the guys getting tickets at the movie theater? are they going to arm the person wearing the mickey mousese coste at disney? this is what the national rifle association wants, and w we will not stand for it. metalld not need detectors and clear backpacks and more weapons in our streets, and more weaeapons o of war in e hands of civilian. for too long, our government has been useless on this issue. our job, as there can situate,

is to make sure we know what they are thinking. there are over 250 representatives that have not, out with a public stance on this issue. it is our job to make sure we call them up and forced them out of the shadows of corruption into the light of justice. teens, peoplele think that wewe dodo not like to wait around for things. they are sometimes a lot of you are probably wondering, what now? now, we n need to come e togethn all l fronts and pusush aside te that divide us. we need to g get on the phone ad cacall our representatives a ans andnd taketop incumbency action. we have to educate ourselves on which politicians are truly working for the people and which ones we want to vote o out. because at the end of the day, bullets do not discriminate. so why should we? it is not about your race.

it is not about your sexual orientation. it is not about your visit you can get it is not about your gender. it is not about where you live and how much money you make. it most certainly is not about political parties. all it comes down to is life or death. to all the politicians out there, if you take money from the nra, you have chosenen deat. if you have not expressed to your constituents, your public stance on this issue, you chose death. if you have not said we need to pass country as a gun legislation, you have chosen death. none of the millions of people marching in this country today will stop until they see those people out of office, because we choose life. [cheers] thank you. i love you all. [cheers] >> 9 97% of american voterers wt

universal background checks r gun sales.s. people can buy weapons of war frfrom the back of an suv, andno one is checking as to whether they have a a restinining order, terminalal record, or histororyf violenence. an estimated 22% of all gone transfers take lace without a backgrouound checkck. and in states that require more decorative some e the federal government, there are 53 percent fewer law enforcement officers killed in n the line of duty. waitining peririods work, too. a a new red d flag love createdo guns aw from soone who shows waing signs of violen. let's dodo thi enough is enough. it is time for change. never again. [cheers]

♪ we may not have reached our glory but i will gladly join the fight they should tell their stories tell the story of tonight tell the story of tonight

♪ >> ♪ have you ever felt like nobody was there have you ever felt forgotten in ththe middle of nowheree have you ever felt like you could disappear like you could fall ? ♪ >> ne would hear well, let that lonely feeling wash away ♪ >> ♪ all we see is light >> ♪ maybe there's a reason to believe you will be ok ♪ >> ♪ four forever >> ♪ because when you do not feel some have to stand you can reach reach out your hand ♪ >> raise it glass to freedom

something they can never take away ♪ coming runningll they will take you home ♪ >> no matter what they tell you raise a glass to all of us they will tell the story of tonight ♪ it's only a matter of time ♪ comeshen the dark crashing through, when you need a friend to carry you, when you are broken on the ground, you will be found let the sun comes streaming in, you reach up and you rise again if you only look around you will be found ♪ >> ♪ when our children tell their stories ♪ >> they will be found

>> ♪ they will tell the story of tonight ♪ >> ♪ no matter what they tell you ♪ ♪ tomorrow there'll be more of us ♪ >> telling the story of tonight ♪the story of tonight [applause] >> we love you. enough is enough. don't give up.

>> [cheers] [chanting] vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! [cheers] >> hello, everyone. i'm a senior at thurgood marshall academy in washington, d.c. i'm here to represent the hundreds and hundreds of thousands of students who live every day in constant paranoia and scared on their way to and from school.

at this moment, please raise your hand if you have been affected by gun violence, thought of the ones you have lost. -- to honor the one you have lost. today, i raise my hand in honor of my twin brother, zaire kelly. [applause] [cheers] 20,sire was shot september 2017, on his way home from a competitive college afterschool program called college-bound. zaire has a personality that would light up her room. he was energetic and f full of dreams andnd aspirations. he was our team captain on the track team, running for student government president. andas a youth councilmember aspipired to be a further scientist and attend florida a&m university for undergrads. [cheers]

zaire was the best dresser i knew, with the most style. leader, andson, a inspirer, not just another statistic. i was s in contact with zaire while he was walking home, texting and calling them all throughout the night. abouout 20 to 30 mininutes wenty and i got worried because the wawalk alone doesn't take 30 minutes. i left my y room to ask my mom where he was, until i saw flashing blue and red lights outside my window. i told my parents there were police cars in an ambulance on our street and we rushed outside, discovering that it was zaire. that night, september 20, a robber with the gun was lurking on my streets for hours, and on my walk home, he attempted too rob me, , but i ran.

he had an angle monitor on and was supposed to be monitored by police, he was still able to attain a gun illegally and take my brothers life. shot my brother in the head. [applause] once we arrived to the hospital, he was pronounced dead. born, w wetime we were shared everything, including issues. i spent time with him m every dy becacause we went to the e same school and share the same friends. -- we evenshared share the same room. can you imagine how it would be to lose someone that close to you? sadly, too many of my friends and peers can. this year alone, my school lost

toto students to senseless gun violenence. paris brown and my brotherer. this year alone in january, they were sick students killed under the age of 16 killed by guns and washington, d.c., and my brother'r's name, my family is proposing the zaire kelly public safety zone amendment of 2019. this act aims to crereate safe passage zones for students to and from school and other activities by expanding the definition of a student. student wouldnt, a be defefined by any person enrolled in a public or privatae day care center, elementary school, vocational school, secondary school -- excuse me. [applause]e]

college, junior college, univerersity. it expands gun free zones toto include recreation centers. this amendment means every student in wasashington, d.c. would carry the protection of my brother's name and ensure the safety of the travel to o and fm school. in our city. , and like zion kelly all of you, i've had enough. [applause] [cheers] >> going to start off by putting this price tag right here is a reminder to you guys so you know how much marco rubio check for every student's life in florida. cenents.r and five

the cold grasp of corruption shackles the district of columbia. the winter is over. changes here. the sunshine on a new day and the day is ours. , showe fifirst time voters 18% of the time in midterm elections, not anymore. [cheers] now, who hears what about in the 28 elections -- who here is going to vote in the 28 elections?s? -- 2018 elections? [cheheers] if you listen close, even here the people in power shaking. they have gotten secure e the sasafety of an action. inaction is no l longer safe, ad ththat we say no more. people, 96 people die every

day from guns in our country, yet most representatives have no public stance on guns. and to that, we say no more. we are going to make this a voting issue. we are going to every election, to every state andnd every city. we're going to make sure the best people get in our elections to run, not as politicians, but as americans. because this, this is not cutting it. [cheers] when people trtry to suppress yr vote and there are people who stand against you because you are too young, we say no more.. when politicians say your voice doesn't matter because the nra owns them, we say no more. when pololiticians and send ther thoughts and prayers with no action, we say no more.

and to those politicians supported by the nra that allow the continued slaughter of our children and our future, i say get your resumes ready. [applause] [cheers] today is the beginning of spring and tomorrow is the beginning of democracy. [cheers] now is the time to come together, not as democrats, not as republicans, but as americans. americans of the same flesh and blood that care about one thing and one thing only, that is the future of this country and the children that are going to lead it. [cheers] now, they will try to separate us in demographics. they will try to separate us by religion, race, congressional district and class. they will fail. we will come together.

we will get rid of these public servants that only serve the gun lobby and we will save lives. you are those heroes. [cheers] lastly, let's put the usa over the nra. this is the start of the spring and the blossoming of our democracy. let's take the store local legislatures and let's take as a midterm elections. the persistent heat, without the persistence of voters and americans everywhere getting out to every election, democracy will not flourish. but it can edit will. ,o i say, to those politicians that's a change will not come, i say we will not stop until every child,ery woman, every and every american can live without fear of gun violence, and to that i say no more. all, blessi love you all of you and god bless

america. we can, and we will change the world. [applause] [cheers] [chanting] no more! no more! no more! [cheers] >> hi. [laughter] my name is naomi and 11 years old. [cheers] cararter led ad wawalkout andnd are elementary schoolol -- at our elementary schohool. we walked out for 18 minutes, adding a minute to honor an

african american girls was the victim of gun violence in our school in alabama after the parkland shooting. i'm here today to rerepresent h. i'm m here todayay to repreresea of pendleton. representoday to tiana thompson, who are just 16 years old was shot dead here in her hohome in wawashington, d.c. andhere to announce represent the african american stories don't make the front page of every newspaper. [cheers] these stories dodon't lead on te evening newsws. i represent the africacan-amerin women who are victims of gun violence, who are simpmply statistics instead of vibrant beautiful girls full of potential. [cheers] it is my privilege to be here today. i'i'm am indeed, full prprivile. mymy voice has been heard, i'm

here to knowledge their stories, to say they matter, to say their names, as i can and because i was asked to be. [cheers] for far too long, these names, these black girls and women have been just numbers. i am here to say never again for those girls, too. [cheers] i'm here to say that everyone should value those girls too. that i too s said young to have these thoughts on my own. i am too young to have these thought on my own. people h have said i am aa toolf some nameless adults. it's not true. [cheers] my friendsds and i might still e 11 years old and we might delete elementary s school, but we kno,

we know life is and we e know wt is right and wrong. we also know that we stand in the shadow of the n we know that we have seven short years until we too have the right to vote. capital and wee know that we have seven short years until we too have the right toto vote. i'm here today are the words of toni morrison. if there is a book that you want to read that it hasn't been written yet, you must be the one to write it. [cheers] i urge everyone here and everyone whoho hears my voice to join me in telling the stotories that aren't told. to honor the girls, the women of color who were murdered at disproportionate rates in this nation. i urge you to help me write e te narrative for this world and understand so that these girls and women are never forgotten. thank you. [cheers]

>> loo it's really hard to get your drivers license, and often had come over get a creditit c , but ifif you' 18 years s old and yoyou want to gogo out and buy n ar-15 in 2 20 statetes, that's o problem. go to a a gun show in about 32 stes and you can have wanted about one e hour. we can't even buy a beer ununtil we arere 21 years old, that maks nono sense these semi-automatic weapons were desigigned for war, not to hunt or shoot clay.y. they aren't cool toys, thehey ae desisigned to kill people. 11 mass shootings were committed by men 2 21 and under.r. many used handguns with huge u used anf ammo and two ar-15. by raising the buying ag of 21 years d,d, we ght't've savav thoslives. enough ienough.

it is time for c chang never again. [cheers] >> hi, i'm my, i'm 16 years old i'm in a creative writing program in chicago. timet wanted to take this and personally thank all of you for coming out here and letting me share this amazing opportunity with you guys. thank you so much. i'm here b because i h have been persrsonally affected by the lak of gun control and i believe guns of taken over the minds of individuals who want an easy way out of their dilemma. chicago goes through this every day and you don't realize how much of a toll it is taking on our city until you see it in our communities.

you see itit on someone you kno. you see it on someone like me. freshman year of high school, i wanted to get some things from the store for my mom because she was sick. i remember pulling on all these clothes and going out in 10 degree weather, it was so cold. get to the store, grabbing all this stuff thinking maybe she needs this, maybe she needs that and finally getting into line. all of ain front of me sudden gets upset because he didn't have enough money to pay for the things he wanted to buy. he gets out of line and starts trashing the store, throwing every thing the floor, pushing carts, making a fool out of himself. out, illy, when i check walked to the door and a ready to go when i hear her scream and and turn around as easy as grabbing all this stuff, ,ushing it into every crevice

when he finally turns to be. becomes toward me, i couldn't move, can breathe, i i couldn't tatalk. all i remember is seeing dark jeans coming towards me. people of his silver pistol and points it in my face and said these words to say hot me and give me nightmares. anything iyou said will find you. and yet, i am still saying something today. [cheers] guns have long scared our children, corrupted our adults, and publicly silence our government. guns have become the voice of america and the government is becoming more negligent by the predicament i the day. join me in sharing my pain and my anger. help us by screaming to the

government that we are tired of crying for help so group of people who have turned their backs on us, despite the reassurance of making our country safer. [cheers] asp us by screaming as loud you can we are tired of being forced under the bus, we are tired of seeing the faces of victims exposed on screen who were stolen from us too fast to understand what and why it happened. help us by sharing our stories to those who turn a blind eye and became deaf to our pleas for control. help us by honoring those who will never have a chance to contribute the turn of our nation. proliferating the voices of those who are too oppressed to speak for themselves. together, we can make sure that what happens to me, the students in parkland college of individuals who stand here now

to not repeat itself to other people. we deserve safer schools, safer classrooms, safer streets and a safer place to learn and survive. [cheers] we deserve better because i believe that we are the future and we must act on this civil inflicted war while we can. the new generation depends on our actions and we must deliver them effectively and is one. we are the turn-of-the-century, we are the voice for change, we are the pieces to fix what america has fallen short on. make it happen. [cheers] [applause]

>> [chanting] vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! [cheers] >> this song is dedicated to stephan clark and cynthia clemens and all the armed -- the unarmed black men and women killed by police. until all of us are free, none of us are free. ♪ freecould be

knew how to play to the strengths of each other [inaudible] free enough to wash away our trouble better today for tomorrow ♪ one day i dream of telling my mama you wait got to work no more. same for my father down on that floor as far as he came, i can't complain pain is so subjective spend so much time counting issues i forget to count my blessings watch my cousins back at home getting water out of wells i watch my brother steppingstones trying to get a meal on the other side, we don't recognize

we are in heaven so we think it's hell, it's hard for me to tell sometimes i wake up and look up in the sky asking why i'm alive when so many others have died but my pride won't let me give up as hard as i tried sometimes i try to remember we could be free ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ if we only knew to play the strengths of each other i hearng i believe is and to see who the enemy of my brother enough to wash away our sorrows [inaudible] we make a better today not tomorrow i don't want to wait for the afterlife i don't want to be the new sacrifice

i don't want to turn into a poltergeist the night full of broken dreams mama crying at the open casket all dressed up for sunday masses faith alone can make things right politicians send a prayer thoughts and prayers can't save our lives parkland in baton rouge, police shooters, shooters in the schools, wild, wild, wild every time i want -- watch the news. what do i have to lose all lives matter but these kids lives are theirs to lose what keeps flowing in congress keeps on doing nothing sometimes i wake up and i look up in the sky asking why i'm still alive all the days i could have died who am i in my place to contemplate suicide those times i try to remember truly if wefree

were only slaves to the pain of each other paid in my blood to see the enemy of my brother and love coulde wash away our sorrows i'm not afraid to bleed if it will make a better today, not tomorrow make my enemy my brother today nota better tomorrow ♪ >> thank you. my name is nick vincent.

[applause] >> [chanting] vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! [cheers] >> good afternoon. i'm joined by brenda levitan, michael solomon and the founding members of molko for gun control. [applause] my name is not post, i'm a 12th grader at a student member of the board from a government county, maryland. [cheers]

time ofi gather in a moral crisis for our country. we stand at a moment when our nation's laws are now guided -- are not guided by what is right or wrong or what is morally sound for the many, but instead is limited by the insatiable greed of the few. lobbyir greed, the gun and their politicians have tried to deflect and distract us. they tried to twist what is so clearly a gun issue into anything else. but we won't fall for it. we know that's only focus on school safety instead of american safety is to dismiss the thousands of tragedies in between the massacres. [cheers] peopleres the disproportionately people of color who died by bullets without even making the headline. [cheers] yet our politicians still lack the compassion to act.

and when that cold in action that continues to fuel this endless bloodshed churns and , is note, -- churns difficult to diagnose the moral health problem of this country. our nation's politics are sick with soulless nest, but make no mistake, we are the cure. where they choose incrementalism, we choose real change. where they embrace and extremism of complacency, we embrace and extremism of love. where they believe in the absolutism of an amendment, we believe in the absolutism of human life. [cheers] it won't be easy to change things. the moral, the obstructionist, and the complicit already lining up to block our path. we are going to have to have courage to fix this. it's going to take some will. let me ask, is there a will to keep weapons of war off our streets? >> yes!

to break thiswill wrangle hold of the nra? yes! >> then stand up, speak up and register to vote. if we keep our heads unbowed, who can stop us? 227 days from now, we will make this a turning point for our country. ,nd we, the new diverse inclusive, and compassionate face of america, will leave this country once again down the path of righteousness. thank you. [applause] [cheers] >> in the days following the shooting, many students express their frustration about one group, the nra. the national spokesperson for the nra and she is here with us. >> they use their media to assassinate real news.

>> the left has a rigid, radical anti-gun agenda. >> i'm sick of these elitiststs looking down on gun owners as if we are a bunch off rednecks who don't deserve the right to protect and defend ourselves. >> that use schools to teach anotheresident is justt hheadwear. >> it doesn'n't hohow many lemos you get out there on the streets begging for them to have their guns taken, we will not really close them. >> thahat use their movie e stas and award shows to review theirr narrative over and over again. >> what matters is who the enemy is. they are the no gun people, period. met ouright have freshfaced flower child president and his weak kneed ivy league friends. [indiscernible] >> the only truly free people of blocked this earth have been armed people. >> they use their ex-president to endorse the system also make

the margin prorotest and make tm scream racism and sexism and xenophobia and homopbia, to smaswiwindowand d bu cars s d shut down intersta a and aportrt , lly and rrorizthe law-abiding. see what it's like to be french, german, or belgium, where innocent people cower in doomed evil closes in, to defenend their families with rolling pins and broom handles. >> the only way we stop this, the only way we save our cououny and d our freedom is t to f figs violence of lies with a clenched fist of f truth. >> from my cold dead hands. [applause] [chanting] vote them out! vote them out! vote them out!

>> i want the people who say those words to understand one thing. h hands -- their are hand to hand of cold and dead, it's ours. countryung people of thisis . hello, everyone. underwood c christopher and i'm 11 years old and a sixth grader at eagle academy at ocean hills, brooklyn, new york. [cheers] i am also a junior ambassador for demanding actionon for gun sense america. on june 20 7, 2012, my 14-year-r-old brothther was shot while walking home from high school graduation party at his frfriend's house. daysother survived for 14 and died on his 15th birthday,

july 10, 2012. at that time, i was only five years old.d. since they took away my childhood d and nothing away -- nothing in my life was ever the same because i no longer have my best friend. brother gave me the courage to be a voice for my generation. [cheers] i turned my pain and anger into action. ,nd started speaeaking out especially for the siblings who've lost their brothers and sisters and for other children whose voices are heard but feel the painful effects of gun violence. have watched for years as gun violence continunues to take a toll on communities across the country. , i would like to nonot worry about dying. math and science

and playing basketball with my friends. [cheers] don't i deserve to grow up? >> yes! >> on apriril 4, we rememember y lizard king g junior on his s 5h anniveversary y of his death. what we sometimes forget is that he himself was a a victim of gun violence. i would like to finish my s speh today by honorining martin luthr king jr. by y remembering his words which are as true today as when he were alive. martin lututher kingng jr. onced our lives begins and the day we become silent about things that matter in our lives matter. thank you. [cheers]

>> my naname is jacqueline c coe and i am proud to say that parkland is my home. [cheers] heart of ththis movementnt. but just as a hard needs blood to pop, my hometown means the alliance of other communities to properly spread this message. really recognize that we are privileged individuals and would not received as much attention if we weren't for the affluence of our city. however, wehat, share the ststage today anand forever with those who have always stared down the barrel of a gun. [cheers] this issue is undoubtedly an epidemicic that affectss communities of all classes, an

epidemic of the center for disease control does not have the funds to research. spreadsease continunues to , even though we have discovered that your, but our government officials close their ears because it involves change, i change the does not align with their own agenda. [applause] that is whyy parkland cannot and will not do this alone. numbers andength in we need each and every one of you to o keep screaming at your own congressman, don't be scared just because they have senator just in front of their name. [applause] officials have seen american after american dropped from a bullet, and instead of waking up to protect us, they have b been hitting the snooze button. but we are here to shake the awake.

each congressman has a local office in their district, so organize a town hall. theyey will be home for the next two weeks for congressional recess. [applause] [cheers] have them hear you out, because they work for us. [applause] and if they still won't meet with you, remind them that you invited their opponents, because we all know they will show up then. greatnot keep america if we cannot keep america safe. 1096 deaths by firearms every day is not what i would call great. and 96 deaths by firearms every day is not what i would call great. amendment is our

weapon in ththis war, a a weapon that should be our streets, a weapon that cannot kill, but hehe'll. -- heal. love will always outweigh hates, as the universe is on the side of justice. so i need each and everyone of you, no matter your age, t to continue to fight alongside us, because hearts cannot pump without blood and i don't want your community to join the gasoline or circle might is now part of -- the ghastly inner circrcle that mine is now a a pt of. in the end, we are all fighting for our lives. the we are a great generation and we will be the ones to make america safe. thank you. [cheers] i actually have a special guest for you guys. i'm going to bring her up.

[cheers] >> my name is yolanda reneging -- rene king, granddaughter of martin luther king. [applause] my grandfather had a dream that is for little children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. i have a dream that enough is enough. [cheers] should be a gun free world, period. can you please review these words after me? [inaudible] all across the nation.

we. are going to be. a great nation. i like you say it like you really really mean it. [inaudible] all across the nation, we are generation. a great it likelik you say you really, really mean it and the whole entire world can hear you. heard all across the be an, we are going to great generation. now give yourselves a hand. [applause]

[chanting] vote them out! vote them out! vote them out! ♪ that heartost hear dreaming every step i'm taking in every move on making love with no direction but i, i gothaking

a cute trying -- i've got to keep trying, i got to keep my head held high as always going to be another are we going to be an uphill battle another fight we're going to have to lose in a nevada how fast i get there ain't about what's waiting on the other side it's the climb the struggles i'm facing the chances i'm taking sometimes might knock me down but no i'm not breaking i may not know it but these are the moments that

i'm going to remember most yeah just got to keep going and i i gotta be strong just keep pushing on, 'cause there's always gonna be another mountain i'm always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle sometimes i'm gonna have to lose ain't about how fast i get there ain't about what's waiting on the other side it's the climb you all have such beautiful voices, i want to see you sing along at the top of your lungs.

i'm always gonna wanna make it -- there's always gonna be another mountain i'm always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be a uphill battle sometimes you gonna have to lose ain't about how fast i get there ain't about what's waiting on the other side it's the climb oh yeah keep on moving keep climbing keep the faith baby it's all about it's all about the climb keep the faith

keep your faith ♪ thank you so much, everybody. thank you for being here. i love you all so much. never again. you guys are so incredible and i count myself lucky to be here with all these wonderful people fighting for what is right. love you so much. thank you. ♪ >> since 2007, it's been a weapon of choice for mass shooters, the ar-15 and similar variants. 2012, one was used toto kill 12 people in a movie theater in colorado. anand 20 elememeary scho children and s six teachers. in 201015, 1 to 14 lives i in

california, in 2017, 1 contributed to the death of 58 concertgoers in las vegas. and 26 chuhurchgoers inn texas,d last month, 14 students anand three teteachers in florida. none of these deaths should have happened. still 2004,4, we banned assault weapons like the ar-1 during that decade, , there were 12 gun massacres with 89 deaeat. in the 10 years after our leaders in washington failed to extend it, the numbers climbed to 34 mass shohootings w with 32 lives lost. assault weapons are assault o on our future. nearly 70% of the country supppports another ban. let's get ar-1s d alalso weapaps off the street enough is enough. it's time for a change. never again.

>> [cheers] >> this is democracy now! is looking for feedback from people who appreciate the closed captioning. e-mail your comments to outreach@democracynow.org or mail them to democracy now! p.o. box 693 new york, new york 10013. >> i like to take it down for a minute here. there might be musicians on the stage, but this is not coachella. we might have movie stars in the crowd, we might have videos on the screens, but this is not the oscars. i don't know if you have been looking, but i don't see any

macy's day balloons out there. this is real life, this is reality, t this is what's happening in our country and around the world today. [cheers] and i would lilike to make it rl for a miminute. 14 is my sister's birthday. birthdayo spend that huddled under a desk holding lauren haga, david's sister, her hand, hoping that she was going to make it home that day. she was premature. she was going to make it at the beginning of her life that you didn't know she was going to make it home that day this year. she might have not stared down the suitors eyeyes, she may not haveve seen him or know who he was, but he affected her life just as every much as everyone has vote on the stage today. and i know a lot of people, a

lot of people are out there saying that we need to make americica safe again. i know that we can't. we cannot make america safe again until we are o our teache. our teachers. we need to arm them with pencils, pens, paper, and the money they need, they knew that my to support their families and support themselves before they can support the future in those classrooms, to support the future that sits on that desk waiting to learn. studentsed to arm our with the facts and the knowledge and the education they need to live in the real world, not just some fantasy, not just something laid out there by the public and the media. we need them to be armed and there's only one way to do that. this right here. this right here, this connect to to the whole of human information.

the whole ofof human knowledge. it connects you with the click of a button. you can learn anything thahat i have learned, anything we all of learned in our journey to the stage right here today. you can learn it just like that. just go to the website, type it in, and it's there. i have been amazed by what i've seen. i'm a amazed that i cannot see e end of his crowd herere in d.c. today.y. amazedd by all of the walkoutsts that h have been takg place over the past five weeks. these walkouts have been criticized. they have been told that if a disruption to the educational process. and i say to them real disruption to the educational process is staring down the barrel of a gun. [applause] it's the fact that you can be taking a calculus exam and when you were doing that, you have in the back of your head the thought that where is this you are going to enter, when is he

going to come in, where can i hide? we are done hiding. we are done being afraid. we are done being full of fear, because it is a waste of our time it is not living out what our forefathers, what our founding fathers envisioned for this country. life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. [cheers] w we marchnow that today, but this isn't over. this is the beginning of the end and from here, we fight. it is time to fight for our lives. and i say that there's only one way to do that. up society.ev when he to rev up the engines, up america, we do that by registering to vote. at single walkouts are making sure that you can preregister to vote. then we will educate. we will be going around the country until these elections and after until we can tell

every man, woman, and child in this country what is real and what is going on, and we need to make sure that everyone knows what is actually happening in their backyard and abroad. we will register, we will educate and then when it comes down to it, we will vote. nra, they preach aret preach g g, but we preaching rev. register, educate, vote. thank you and hello uncle myron. [cheers] >> hi, m my name is ololivia ean and i am a parkland survivor. in room 1214, studying

holocaust history when bullets started flying in. i was the third classroom. neeeedles of my fallen -- eagles, it wouould have been his 18th birthday today and i dedicate my march to him. [cheers] here to speakly about school shootings. i'm hehere to speak with urban communities that have been speaking out about this way before february 14, 2018. [cheers] their voices are just as important in ours -- as ours, and they need to be heard. this is a very important subject and it needs to change. although it's been 38 days since the parkland shooting, nothing has changed and we need change now.

this cannot happen again. and it's going to continue to happen again until we get changed. how many more do we need? how many more do we need in schools, how many more do we need in the streets? now, not only in schools, but in urban communities s as well. [cheers] all of o our lives are importan. and all of our stories need to be heard. ,o matter what color you are what school you go to, when neighborhood you live in. -- what neighborhood you live in.. 1515 years ago, i lost my uncle patrick to gun violence in brooklyn, new york. my mother almost lost her daughter to the same gun violence in parkland, florida. this needs to change. we have been fighting for this way too long and nothing has changed. and we need change now.

[cheers] yes, i'm a parkland survivor and an msc student, before this, i was a regular black girl and after this, i will black and i'm still regular and i will fight for all of us. [cheers] >> we want change! [cheers] >> hello, beautiful people of america. it is a great day to be here and it'a great day to see all of you here, and i'm proud of each and every one of you. is i am not here for me. i'm here for you.

fear ofever have to getting shot in your own classrooms. you never have to wonder if you have to see your best friend dina to you. you don't ever have to worry about going into a holocaust history class to learn a about death and then experiencnce it right before your eyes. -- oh my god.y and this is why this piece is called enough. [cheers] never did i think it would be herded like cattle by a shower of bullets that left me scarred and rattled, forced to huddle among those who lost their last living breath on a date it was

designated for love and laughs. i never got to say goodbye, i could barely see out my eyes because i was crying tears and blood of the same time, barricaded behind it b but cases taught me one thingng and one thing only. regardless of how much money you pay or how much you pray, if you don't change anything today, your children were no longer stay, so what do we's -- when do we say enough is enough? day in and day out, our kids are getting shot up in the moment that we speak up we are scolded that we are not old enough and it's as if we need permission to ask our friends not to die. lawmakers and politicians will screen guns are not the issue, but can look me in the eye -- can't look me in the eye. [cheers]

>> you got this. [cheers] [laughter] just threw up on international television and it feels great. [cheers] asking for a ban or asking for compromise, forget your stars in color, let's save one anotother. he's a vision regulation that doesn't make any exception, close the cracks and loopholes was there about projects checks

and psychological evaluation, prototect our school like we do our other government establishments, yoyou security protocol methods that are efficient and one more request -- listen. [cheers] simple and our visions are unbeatable. let's keep the guns out of the hands of the wrong people and keep them in the hands of the safe and reasonable, so either you can join us or be on the side of history who prioritize their guns over the lives of others. [cheers] the only way we can do this, let's have our lawmakers reflect our views and address our struggles. unite with one another. amererica, you will have to choose. will you give up? ?r is enough enough

[cheers] request.e more today is march 24, march for our lives. but it is also the birthday of nick, someone who was senselessly murdered in front of me. today is his birthday. i would like to sing together, happy birthday. 1, 2, 3 -- >> ♪ happy birthday to you happy birthday to you dear nickhday happy birthday to you ♪ >> thank you! stay beautiful! [cheers]

i'm amy goodman. 'sis is > democracy now! coverage of march for our lives. >> gree mare corps. >>eal team e. >> i wastationed i ira >> andfghanist. >> vieam. >>y servicweapon w m-16 is basally the same. ar-15.he same as an >> the se weaponhat kill hundreds of peopl -- i kw the poweof this weaponirsthand >> the'no reason. >> no reason >> noeason why anyonethther than the military and la enfoement shldld havan

assat weaponike thi country.ht for this i believe in the seco amenent and e ririghto bear arms. >> guns ha changedot since then. apidfih-pored, assat weaponlike ar-15re ant for e thi. >> onehing. that's not somethg g i wa in m country >> my name is corpal aiken >> the oicer sond classss day >> staff sgeantousman. rice- senioran airman rice. on military the ban style assault rifles and safer gun laws in this country. [cheers] ♪ [cheers] ♪

washington, d.c., what's up? [cheers] ♪ day and night don't you worry about a thing we are going to be all right oh, yes we are going to be all right we are going to be all right mindup your everything is going to be all right don't you know

make up your mind we've decided everything's going to be all right we're going to be all right night -- day and night we're going to be all right no motion can seem to get where were going. the hard times lead to better days we're going to be all right everything's going to be all right everything is going to be all right rightgoing to be all we're going to be all right

baby, don't you know comes and goes everything is going to be all right make up your mind we're going to be all right everything is going to be all right we're going to be all right we're going to be all right ♪ [cheers] >> thank you guys so much! to everybody participating, thank you so much for fighting for change and love. thank you. thank you. [cheers]

[applause] [cheers] >> thank you! [cheers] [cheers]

>> good afternoon, family. [cheers] yes, i said family. i said family because we are here joining together in unity fighting for the same goals. i say family because of all the pain i see in the crowd. that pain is another reason why we are here. our pain n makes us special. us hurting together brings us closer together to fight for something better. my name is alex king. at north college prep and ap piece warrior

-- a peace warrior. chicago has been at the forefront of gun violence for a long time with 600 people being and 671 in 2017 murdered in 2016. gun violence travels in places like florida, baltimore, washington, d.c., los angeles. it happens nationwide. who have lostople loved ones, friends and family on a regular basis due to gun violence. re, hehew, deshawn moo was taken away on may 28, 2017.. two weeks after his 16th birthday. the day i lost my nephew was a

huge turning point in my life. i started doing a lot of bad things, hanging around a bad crowd. i started to really give up. , dr. king says the community is the framework for the future. what that means is how our community is now, it will be affected in the future if we don't make a change. if we aren't acting like a family now, we won't act like a family in the future. in our community now, it will forever be in our future if we don't make a change. our community has been affected by gun violence for so long and will continue to be affected by it. if we don't do something. but, through my friends and colleagues, i found help to come up out of the dark place.

evereryone doesn't have the same support system as i was lucky to have. myself and a few other people were taking a trip to visit the park when students. -- parkland students. realizing without the proper resources, this issue of violence will not be solved and we will not stop until we are properly resourced in our communities. [cheers] so, family, let's continue to fight for what is right. id, since we are family know, would like to pass on one of this traditions that me and my family does. i ask that you follow me and repeat after me. unity.rican clap shows unity is strength.

look at the numbers and the crowd today. do you see this? so, here's how it goes. first, when i say one, it's like this. 1, 1, 1. ok. next, i will say four. of two.wo sets 2., 4, 1,, 12 here's the tricky part. now, we are going to do 10. two sets of three and two sets of two. when i say 10, it goes like this. 3, 1, , 2, 1, 2. you think we can do this as a

family? [cheers] all right. that's what i like to hear. let's go. 1, 1, 1, 1,. 4, 4.4, 10, 10, 10, 10. i love you all. [cheers] >> 1, 1, 1, 1. dr. 4, 4. 10. for we are survivors. let me say that again for you. for we are survivors.

[cheers] we are survivors of a cruel and silent nation. justice,where freedom, equality and purpose is not avail. a nation where we dodo not live out the true meaning of our creed. when will we as a nation understand that nonviolence is a way of life for a courageous people? [cheers] when will we as a nation understand that we are not here to fight against one another? but we are here to fight for life and peace. [cheers] darknessonce said

cannot drive out darkness. only light can do that. [cheers] hate cannot drive out hate. only love can do that. [cheers] which now leads me to say that violence cannot drive out violence. that.eace can do [cheers] poverty cannot drive out poverty. only resources can do that. [cheers] death cannot drive out that. only proactive life can do that. [cheers] as i stand before you, i stand dethe angela mcdavid -- angelo mcdavid, a survivor and a victor of gun violence. [cheers]

i come from a place where minorities are controlled by both violence and poverty, leading us to be deterred, but today, we say no more! [cheers] you representing souls of those who lost their lives due to gun violence. for we are survivors. for i am a survivor. we are survivors not only of gun violence, but of silence. for we are survivors of the productions of poverty. but not only that. we are the survivors of unjust policies and practices in our senate. [cheers] we are survivors of lack of resources within our schools.

social,urvivors of emotional and physical harm. [cheers] dr. king had a dream. a dream that we must now make our reality. humble and gentle. the patient, bearing with love. keep its unityt of the spirit through peace and love. for first peter says in chapter four verse eight, above all -- you ain't hearing me -- it says above all, love each other. deeply because love covers all wrongdoings. for as we -- let me hehear you y we --

>> we! >> as youth must now be the change that we see. my mother has this phrase she uses all the time. she told me before i left home. she said if you don't stand for something, you fall for anything. and i stand for peace. [cheers] >> hello. my name is matthew soto. at the a age off 15,5, i sat iny high school spanish class while victoria, w was bebeing slslaughtered in her f t grade e classrsroom in newtown, connecticut.t. m makewent intoto school to gingerbread houses with her

classmates --- the anticipation of havaving to wait all week toe on your r best behavior, but tht wawas cut t short. they didn't get to make gingngerbread houses because gunfire rang out in the hallway. too o many times has gunfire b n rainining out in the hallways in schools across this country. too many schoolsls, too many churcheses, too many movie theatersrs, too many neighborhoods, too manany homes. enough is enough. we do not have to wait for others to make a safe. -- make us safe. we have to do it ourselves. america, i'm pleadingng with h u to realize this is notot ok. we don't have to live like this. to my fellow students, it is our time t to stand up.. register to vote, bring power to thahatls and show thosese

say that our lives are not more important than a gun that we are important, that we matter. [cheers] get involved in your community. because change, no matter how small, is change. many of the students that were in fourth grade when my sisteter was murdrdered are n f freshmann highgh schchool. five years ago, this h happened. five years ago, and no change has come. students,rr 400 teachers and parents of newtown families are here marching with us today. [cheers] today, we are presenting a banner t to the parkland comommy from the n newtown community. we know your pain, we know what you are going through and we a e

inspired by your fight for change. [cheers] need to use our voices because we cannot chchange the past, but we can only fight to change and build a better future . [cheers] >> my name is tommy murray. i'm a junior at newtown high school. i was at sandy h hook. i attended sandy hook elementary school. on lockdownth grade for hours when my neneighbor sht his mother in her bed and then our kids and educators. it was one of the worst days of my life. since then, i i've attended vigigils, i protested in frfronf ththe gun lobby in our town, i

sent letters to congress, i traveled to d.c. to back them to do something -- beg them to d do some thihing about gun vioiolene but they didn't do anything. now, the entire parkland community is shatterered the way our town was after the massacre in my elementary school. there here to suppoport marjorory stoneman douglas students. kekeep fighting as hard as you can. your stories have truly changed the hearts and minds and together, our stories will create the change that we need. [cheers] if these mass shootings can happen in newtown and parkland, then they can happen anywhere. nnecticut passesed strong gun laws after sandy hook and congress should do the same. [cheers]

let's stand together to demand change. we will marcrch with you. we will walk out with you. we will vote with you. we will end gun violence in our country and we will honor with action. [cheers] >> m my name i is jackson mittl. i'm alalso a junior at newtown highgh school. tommy and i leadad a gunun viole prevention group to end the violence in america. i was alalso on lolockdown for e hoururs on the worst day of f my lifefe. the e sandy hook mass shooting should havave beeeen the last on our nation, but ththere are more and more every single daday. that's why new towns has enough and we say never again. -- newtown says enough and we say never again. we workeked incredibly hard to protect other communities.

apparently, sandy hook was not enouough. afrr parklanand, we fefeel hope. you have inspired millioions of stududents and adults all arouod ththe world. we want to thank the parkland students and we want to let them know that newtown high school students stand with them. long after the media trucks leave, we willll stand by yoyouh yourur healing a and recovery. we are forever connected by a tragedy that could have been prevented if our lawmakekers had the cocourage to enact smart gun legislation. it touched o our hearts when columbine high school sent as a banner. we hope our banner from newtown high school help you this will help you through your darkest days. all elected leaders of america, you have failed us. we have had enough of your nra agenda. [cheers] calling out those who've taken money from the nra, you

better bring that check to the bank because we will vote you out. [cheers] now, i would like to introduce the new town and parkland demand andchange -- newtown parkland demand for change. [cheers] [cheers] [applause] >> newtown wants change. parkland wants change. the world wants change. give it to us now! [cheers] [chanting ote them out"] >> i witnessed injustice and

violence in my community and i spoke o out. today, you mch because you, too, are witnees to maory steman douas, sand hook, virginia tech and columbine. to every friend who lost a loved one, my art isith you. i std with y. i alreadyalked to some of the students w organiz this rch toda now, i want to tk k to t resest of you, toveryone stening toda i hope you ask the student leaders how you can help them. they need other students, teachers and leaders to walk together to end gun violenence n schools. no oner your politics, wants another child to witness what these children have seen. thank you. [cheers]

we are survivors from marjory stoneman douglas and we also wrote this song. this is dedicated to the 17 victims we lost and 14 injured. its dedicated to their friends and family and anyonwhwho's s er expeperienced gun viololence. >> together, we will be the change. thank you. [cheers] ♪ ♪ you used to -- you tore down the walls and

opened up all the gates , you ruined this town you burned all of the bridges but you're not going to knock us down will get back up again we promise will be stronger and we're not going to let you win we are putting up a fight together, we will stand as one shine going to are going to stand tall going to raise up our voice

so no one ever falls with all your little games we are tired of hearing that we are too young to ever make a change because you are not going to knock us down we will get back up again you may have heard us but i promise we'll be stronger and we are not going to let you win we are putting up a fight as oner, we will stand we can hug a little tighter we can level little more -- love a little more we will be all right

we will never give up the fight ♪ >> we refuse to be ignored by those who don't listen. we deserve to feel safe in our own schools. the time for change is now. the smallest of words can make the biggest difference. >> be the voice for those who don't have one. >> together, we have the power to change the world around us. ♪ >> ♪ you're not going to knock us down will get back up again i promise will be stronger and we're not going to let you in we are putting up a fight you are not going to knock us down we will get back up again you may have hurt us but i promise we will be stronger and we are not going to let you win we are putting up a fight

you may have brought the dark but we will shine the light we will shine ♪ [cheers] >> thank you. thank you. [cheers] [chanting "msd"] to althe pele who are telling us to shut up, the quiet, what your turn -- b be quite, wait your turur we are calllling bs. if we alall register to vote at

18, we can make the changege we call for today. cocommonsense measures w work. let's make background checks universal.l. stop the pipeline of illegal guguns to our streets. raise the age of buying a gun d save lives. let't's make waiting periods rel and stop the epidemic of 22,000 suicides per year and ban on assault weapons that have no place in civilian hands. we are in the march for our lives. we won't stop u unt we makehiss countrtrsafer. e adults had their anance. now, it's outurn. enough is oughgh. it's time for a change. never again. [cheers]

[applause] [cheers] >> six minutes and about 20 seconds and a little over six minutes, some of our fririends wewere taken from us, 15 wewere absolutelelyveryone, everyonene in the douguglas commmmunity was foforever alter. evereryone who was thehere understands. everyone who has been n touchedy the cold grips of gun n violence ununderstands tearful chaototic hours inin the scorching afternn sun were s spent not knowing. no one understood the e extent f what happened. no one could believe there were bodies in that building waiting to be identified for over a dad. no one knenew that the people wo were missing had stopped breathing long before e any of s had even known that a code red had been called.

no o one could comprehehend the devastating aftermamath or how r this wouould reach or where this would go. for those who still canan't cocomprehehend because they rerd to, i will tell you where e it went. right into the ground, six feet deep. six miminutes and 20 seconds wih an ar-15 and my y friend, carme, would neverr complainn to me abt piano practice. --n price would nevever calll alex would never walk in school with his brother, ryan. scott wowould never drive around withth cameron. helena would never hang out after school with max. gina would never wavaved to her friend, leaeanne, a at lununch. oliver would never play basketball with sam or dylan. caroro would nevever -- lukeke d nevever --ter would alalyssa would never - -- jamie --luld never

amy: i'm amy goodmanan. this is democracy nonow!'s live coverage of the march for ourur lives in n washington, d.c. a special four-hour broadcast.. [applause]

[cheers] g goodmanan. this is democracy now!''s live coverarage of the marjoryry ston douglas in washington, d.c. -- live coverage of the march for our lives in washington, d.c. -- acial for our broadcast special four-hour b broadcast.

[chanting "never again"]

goodman.m amy this is democracy nonow!'s s lie coverage of the marjory stoneman douglas in washington, -- live coverage of march for our lives in washington, d.c. broadadcast -- a forial livive, for our our-hour broadcast.

amy: i'm amy goodman. this is democracy now!'s live coverage of the march for our lives in washington, d.c. r-hoururl fou broadcast. >> s since the time thatat i cae ouout here, it has s been six miminutes and 20 seconds. has been shooting and will soon n abandon hihis re and blend in with the students and walk free for an hour before his arrest. fight for your lives before it someone else's job. [cheers] [applause]

[cheers]

[chanting "this is what democracy looks like"] ♪ ♪ >> ♪ come together my children wherever you roam the arms around you have grown

come brighter keep your eyes open for the youth --

♪

[cheers]

[applause] somebody.ll lost i lost someone a long time ago. we are here for a reason. we all have a purpose. we want what? we want change. i want change. thdo you? we are going to sing it to you. we want everybody to say it. [cheers] ♪ >> ♪ change >> ♪ let me hear you say it >> ♪ change >> ♪ oh, yetah ♪

>> ♪ i want change >> ♪ change >> ♪ yes, we do >> ♪ change >> ♪ change change say it again ♪ >> ♪ change end ♪ntil the >> ♪ change >> ♪ i need >> ♪ change , i want to hear you all singing change

because i'm going to keep singing can you change we need to change ♪ [music break[cheers] >> thank you. [cheers] change"] "we want >> keep it going to lay here you say --y hear you

[chanting "we want change"] >> take it from the top. ♪ together all singing -- seeing it together. ♪ >> ♪ change >> ♪ let me hear you say it >> ♪ change >> ♪ i want to hear you say >> ♪ change >> ♪ i know you can give it all ♪ >> ♪ change change you know we need we've hurt too long

pleading ♪ on >> ♪ change change have to change as people put down the weapon heartange your soul ♪t a >> ♪ change because you need change until,t going to get it oh ♪

>> ♪ change >> ♪ change ♪ [cheers] [applause] ♪ [cheers]

[applause] change thank you ♪ ant to see change [cheers] [applause] >> we want to thank you guys for and we would not be here without you. that we no way in hell

could have ever amounted to anything without the support of you guys. we all know what this is like. it's up to us to stop it. for one last final plug, get out there and vote. get out there and get registered. >> we are united. we are called the united states of america for that reason. together, we are whole. together, we are one. look to your left, look to your right. brothers and sisters is what i see. together, we unite to make a whole. hear your children cry, "we want to come home." make our home well. make our home progress. make the generation that is change. we are the change. look at us. look at your children. your children are fighting for

the rights because they are fighting for the right to survive. no more. from a metal machine triggered by human. guns only serve one purpose -- to take a life. they don't spare, they don't protect. they take lives. when you stare at again, you know it's your end. we say no more. we are the united states of america and we are one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. united america. [cheers] we are united. sigue, yall. para la gente. for the people. we will not stop.

we are magical. magic, we are power. bro.nte, la gente. >> as one last important note, it's important that we realize just like we are all americans, we are all susceptible to the same corruption and greed no matter where you are -- who you are or where you come from. what is constantly being sowed are the seeds of corruption. it's our job to ensure that those seeds never sprout. but, the only way you can do that is by getting out and voting. if not for me, for everybody else on this stage and every single american job out there, hope for us, to look for our

lives -- vote for our future to fight for our lives. >> thank you for coming today. you are surrounded by the people who will be making this country a better place. it easier toaking sleep at night and easier to wake up in the morning and go to school and easier to be americans. to all of you who are assisting us in the fight for change, thank you. thank you all. the fight begins today and it will not end until we get what we need. thank you. [cheers] amy: i'm amy goodman.

this is > democracy now!'s live coverage of the march for our lives in washington, d.c. a special four-hour broadcast. you been watching the march for our lives. democracy now!'s global broadcast here in washington, d.c. the city is teaming with young people. hundreds of thousands of young people, their families, their supporters who've come to the nation's capital saying never again. they are talking about themselves as the mass shooting generation. they say they want it to stop. they've brought their concerns to the capital. they are not far from president trump's residents, but he's coughing at his private resort in mar-a-lago, florida. will bringt hour, we

you the voices of the people who come to this city. is not only the city. people have gathered for sibling rallies all over the country. we will bring you some of those voices as well. but first, we want to go to ground zero, to the student survivors. that's where we are going to begin. we will begin with a young man who came to remember his dearest, closest family friend. he grew up with him, when on vacations with him. --was never without walking went on vacations with them. joaas never without quin. >> we are here today to make a change. amy: tell us who your brother was. oaquin aloliver.

amy: how old was he? >> he was 17. amy: how did he die at parkland? >> the shooting at our school. he was in ms. lapel's room. he ran out when the alararm went off. i was across the school in the support room. fellowu and your students at marjory stoneman douglas high school have launched a massive movement. talk about how you feel today at this march for our lives. millions are expected to be marching all over the country, hundreds of thousands here in washington, d.c. alone. >> it's crazy that we did this and sparked this big movement. we will make a a change. this march is just a start for us. amy: what are you calling for? to> gun laws, gun restriction,

have a safer place for us in school. we should be able to go to school and not have to worry about dying by a gun. amy:y: how do you feel when the nra says guns aren't the issue? >> that's ridiculous. without the gun, they cannot kill anybody. it's about the gun. especially guns of war that are distributed to anybody. that's ridiculous. amy: you're taking on one of the most powerful special interests in this country, the national rifle association. do you feel you've had success? >> yes. governor rick scott changed the law to 21. we can do it. amy: how did that make you feeel when the florida

let's keep it at teachers and have police around campus and stuff like that. teachers arm sled not a good idea. amy: talk about your t-shirt. it says -- >> it's an organization that hi -- my brother's father made. the young p people are going to change by making everything

fair. nothing has to do with money coming in it's all fair and a fair game. amy: what t do you want us to reremember about joaquin. >> he's a beautiful person, beautiful soul and he's always happy. i love him and i misiss him dearly. amy: after today, what are youo plans? >> go back to school, get set, start my life and healing still and just doing everything i can to get through with everything and keep trying to make change with my friends. amy: do you think that change with whites is dealt with differently than communities of color? > i can see that, yes. columbine had to go through stuff like we did. we have a lot of voices. we have several kids at our

school who are tweeting and the whole world sees us. evenen in chicago, they should have the same support that we do here. amy: is this issue of gun control and ending violence going to be a major issue in your life do you feel the rest of your life? >> not if we change it. if we change it, i won't be worried about gun violence. you're allowed to have a gun, like a pistol, i understand, to protect your home but an assault rifle, that's not -- that's just war, destruction. >> i'm robin thomas, exec active director of the giffords law center to direct gun violence. talk about why you're here. >> our organization was developed 25 years after a law firm shooting in san francisco and a few years ago we merged with gaby giffords' lobby. we want to change the dynamic in this country so that

legislators and legislatures do the right thing and pass laws that protect our children and communities.s. amy: for people who aren't familiar with what happened to congresswoman gaby giffords, tell us her story. >> she was at an event at a safe way in tucson and a young man who was obviously going through a criticize, went to the safeway with some assault weapons and shot a lot of people, including gaby in the head in front of the safeway. she survived the shooting. she does have life long injuries and while she resigned her position in congresess, she devoted her life to fighting gun violence and to bringing change to this country so we can have a safer country. aimy: talk about how many eople died that day. in fact, news reports were that gaby giffords had died and what weapons that young man had? >> he had assault weapons

similar to all of these weapons that are used. one of the things that was interesting was when the shooter had to take the old cliff in and put the new one in, that's when they were able to tackle him and stop the shooting. had there been no such thing as large-capacity magazines, he would have gotten only 10 shots off and then had to stop and many of lives would have been changed. there is also a man in the safeway who was armed. a conceal carry individual who had a gun on him heard the shooting, ran out of the safeway and almost shot the hero who had tackled the gunman to the ground. thankfully he didn't pull the trigger but it also speaks to the ridiculous fallacy of a good guy stopping the shooting. there's never been an armed shooting stopped by a civilian

and this is a perfect example of why that's a fallacy to have more guns in our society, which will only lead to more gun deaths. it's an absurdity. amy: talk about what the giffords center wants to see now. >> comprehensive gun reform. you look at states like california where we have very comprehensive regulation and gun violence in california has dropped by almost 60% in the last 20 years. we know that there's comprehensive reform that we've put in place already in states like california, new york, connecticut. we need those laws to be federal. we don't have border checks in this country so with weak law some states, guns flow from some states into states with weaker laws. comprehensive regulation and much lower death rates.

amy: so what has the congress done? i want to ask juliann too. you're here from park land. juliann and his brothers and sisters, students and teachers got the florida legislature, which is known for being pro gun to make some changes. what about congress? >> nothing has happened. it's astounding. 97% of americans support uniform background chention and our congress doesn't do it. it's sort of mind-boggling that this government, our government, chooses to do absolutely nothing after sandy hook, after pulse nightclub, after las vegas, after parkland. they do nothing. they act like deer in the hltsdz like there's nothing they can do. amy: why? >> because they take none money from the n.r.a. the n.r.a. represents the industry that wants to sell more guns. everything the n.r.a. stands

for about more guns in this country. they will not back anything,. amy: what have you seen happen differently this month because of what julian and the other students at parkland have done. did you ever think you would see this? >> i didn't think i would but i certainly hoped and pray they would. it's incredible. these kids are tirmeless will. they're connecting the dots in this country, about the fact that the leaders of this country choose not to protect their lives. they're protecting guns over the lives of children and that message that is coming from the children. they're not political. they're not republicans or democrats, they're not entrenched in ideology, they're just screaming for us to do better to protect their lives and make this country safer. i think for some reason that message coming from them after this tragedy is hitting the mark in a totally different way than we've ever seen before.

amy: julian, you could have spend your time mourning and everyone would have understand and left you alone but you didn't go that route, why not? >> because i know away queen -- joaquin would want me to get off my butt and do what we can. amy: and what would you say, you're scombrurs down the street from the capitol. >> i -- you guys need a reality check. lives are more important than money any day. >> si hi, i'm soledad. i'm with democracy now!. can you tell me your name? >> alanna williamson. >> your age, please is this >> i'm 13 years old. >> are you here with an organization or school? >> no, i'm here with my brother, my mom and dad. >> why did you come? >> i don't want to be scared walking to school. i want more gun reform and wall

a -- all in all i want people to be safe and to live good lives. this isn't the american they wanted to grow up in. i wanted to grow up in an american -- america with peace, not an america where kids are constantly getting killed by asaurt -- assauault weapon. >> how do you think this has affected our lives? ? >> i t think the fact that we'r even known as that generation is so disgusting and i feel like the fact that people even -- can hold assault weapons in this day and time is just disgusting. they're not made for -- they're not made for hunting. they're made for actual -- that's why they'rere called assault weapons. they're made for assaulting people and that's not why people should be holding these gun. they shouldn't be holding them. they shouldn't be hurting people with these gups. >> what do you home will be the impact of this march?

>> i hope people wake up and start too realize what an impact thehe people are making, how many kids are dying from these guns. how many people are just actually starting to wake up and say i need to change. we need to change this. we need to have our congress and our political leaders wake up. julian's ned by mother. he survived that day. >> thank god. amy: tell me what you heard that day. >> i was coming g home from a conference and my son calls me crying whispering, mom, i'm in a closet, they're shooting up the school. i became hiser the cal. called his father. after he -- we hung up, i i tol him to put his phone on silent, turn out the light and i heard from him about an hour later saying police are here,

everything is ok. i'll see you at the hotel. amy: so you saw him at the hotel? his first question was where's joaquin, where's my brother? i said we'll look for him. we found out he passed away, unfortunately. amy: their kids grew up together? >> they've been together since they were in third grade. doing things together, vacation together. just a beautiful -- they didn't deserve this, the family. y:ut you all didn't just huppinger down afterwards. you reached out and julian and all the other students. talk about what this has meant. >> it's important to these students. they want to vote. our students are not going to give up. we're going to do this march and it's going to go on and on

until change comes. amy: what do you say to those who say the n.r.a. has politicians in their proktsporkts, it's impossible. >> it's true. they're receiving money and everybody knows it. they just need to think about lives, not money and what's more important to them. but our students, our children, they're goin -- going to vote and if you don't want to help us, you're not going to be here. >> we're from miami 3035 representing. sophomore in high school. >> what does your sign say? >> we're here toed a vo indicate for common sense gun laws. miami chapter and the d.c. chapter. amy: read us your sign and tell us what it says. >> powers of the people but students and teachers are here representing but we're here to make change. amy: and you after picture of emma gonzalez. >> yes, and we also have different signs.

amy: and why did you decide on emma, one of the student survivors at marjory stoneman douglas? >> he speech was so incredible, i didn't know any person i would r rather bed a vo indicating for. amy: who are you? >> i'm from miami springs, florida. amy: how old are you? >> i am 12 years old. amy: why are you here today? >> to make a change. we need to end gun violence once and for all and can i ask you as a high school student what makes you think you can change what people haven't changed in decades. >> i feel like the wrong thing hit in the right place in time and i feel like students are fed up and the upcoming generation is doing what this generation isn't. this generation of politicians isn't doing what our yen and race wants. they'll listen. if notting we'll shoate vo them

out. amy: do you think we treat difference violently in white communities and plaque and latino communities. >> this has been going on in plaque communities forever and i think now that it hit in a white demographic, politicians are listening. amy: you're standing next to congress. what do you think they should do? >> we'll vote you out if you don't agree with us. amy: when president trump says arm teachers, what do you say? >> teachers that barely have nough to pay for pens and peps and now you want them to buy guns? i don't think that's plausible. that only shows how our country is going in that direction. very disappointing. amy: hi. >> hi, we're from new york and we're both teamers. your sign says #this is enough.

>> yes, we've had enonough of this ridiculous abnormal world we live in when anybody can buy an ar-15, a weapon of warful >> it's a rep specifically made to mass murder people. it had -- has no other purpose. >> we think what's happening here is that the normal people are coming out and reclaiming our world against the abnormal state of affairs. aimy: and where do you teach? >> we teach in the new york area. i'm at a private school just outside of queens. >> and i team at a school in lower manhattan. amy: and your thoughts on arming teachers? >> that's insainl. no one should even be talking about ill. anyone who works in a classroom knows that is sheer houston sip. anyone who thinks that's a good idea either has never worked in a classroom or has no common sense whatsoever. >> it's the country's job to

pass reasonable laws to ensure public safetety. that's what every government has been doing for the last few centuries and this is not a science fiction novel we're living in this. this is the real world and public policy has to be serious and mature and intelligence. amy: this march in washington, [indiscernible] it's a march for our lives and just now, as people are streaming away from the rally, as people are streaming away from that rally, the die-hards behind us -- amy: in is democracy now!'s global live coverage of

the march for our lives in washington, d.c. hundreds of thousands have come to our nation's capital. some from chicago. can you tell us our names? >> darla and joe from chicago, illinois. my son is 15 years old. keyshawn newman. 15 years old. amy: and he was on the stage today? >> yes. amy: you're wearing a little sign. it's like a ticket, it's like a price tag that says $1.05 and under it, it says politicians like marco rubio receive millions from the n.r.a. don't put a price on us. what are you concerned aboutut chicago? >> the gun violence. amy: how bad is it in chicago? >> it's really bad. we don't have mass shootings, we have daily shootings. amy: do you feel that the media

doesn't cover communities of color as much as it does when it's a white community? >> i do. here.son is amy: tell me about that price tag on your wrist. >> it basically says because of -- amy : so every kid is worth a dollar sign. what message do you have for congress? your button says demand justice and march for our lives and enough is enough. >> just want to let them know what you -- that you can't put a price on the lives that we lost if we don't do everything we can do right now. it could be a lot worse if we don't take action. amy: and your name? father -- from chicago.

amy: tell us about the issue in your parish. >> we live on the south side of chicago where violence is ann everyday thing. our neighborhood is filled of balloons and teddy bears and yellow police tape and sirens and helicopters. that's the music for our communal. it's been ignored and neglected constantly over and over again. we just heard last week that the united states navy medics are now sending to the stroger hospital in chicago for training because it's the closest thing they can find in america for a battlele field. amy: repeat that? >> united states navy mededics are being sent to the counsel hospital in chicago for some training because it's the closest thing they could find in america to a battlefield. how damn ridiculous is that in america? we should be ashamed that the government, the mayor, the

president, every elected official should be ashamed of that in this country. our black and brown lives don't matter and i'm so glad that the people from parkland. we flew them in, they met with our young team people the whole day. they want to connect the dots with us. amy: keyshawn, you met with the parkland students? >> we did. amy: they came to chicago? >> yes. we showed that we support each other in everything that we all do. amy: let me ask the same question i asked your mom. if you think that when a mass shooting takes place in a white community. it gets more attention than in yours? >> can you repeat the question? aimy: when a mass shooting takes place in a white community than that it gets more attention than the daily shootings in your community. do you feel that way? and yes, i do feel that way but

the mass shooting we have now and the shootings well every day, it's still a right we have to have and make everyone else know it's something that we all share. amy: father, what are you doing in your parish? >> we started about seven years ago. we do friday night walks. we hire four ex-gang members. e started a program that takes people with felonies and put them into jobs. 50 people with felonies. we spent $6,500 total on them in a year and now 46 of them are working full-time jobs. it's 42,000 if they go to prison. 110,000 if they get shot. so people who don't care about your young people in chicago, if for no other reason, it's a business decision. $,500 is much more -- better than $42,000.

we don't have the will to end this violence because the politicians and senators care about t themselves and don't ca about the south side of chicago. amy: do you think this will help prevail even in chicago? >> absolutely. the park land and chicago students are united. we want to unite with philly, south central. young people are moving above race, above creed and slur and faith. they're coming together. juice, christians, muslims bonding together as young people. you know what else young people are doing? they're impatient. they have phones. they want something done right now. stay impatient because the adults have gotten used to this madness in our country. amy: i see a youth organizer beside you. tell me your name. >> lamar johnson. amy: you came from chicago, why?

what are you doing with the youth in chicago? >> i'm with the youth center is that a. is sabine has on the campus. our job is to train young people how to be peace makers and advocates for their community. amy: do you have hope today? >> yeah, i have home because this is just the beginning. people think this is the end but this really is the beginning of a revolution of change. like they were saying all day, they have voting power and i think congress is keeping these young people for granted. these are the next voters. when you take your voters for granted. they're 16, 17, 18 years old. so the next voting season, these are the people going to the booths. if they don't hear them now, they will eventually. amy: key shaw, are you going to register and vote? >> y yes, i am. every vote counts. even one person can make a didifference. amy: are you thinking about

running yourself maybe for office? >> uh, we'll see in the future. just got to keep up the grades for right now. amy: i want to thank you very much for joining us. a delegation of young people, their parents, their father, their refrpbleds, their minister from chicago. here we are in washington, d.c. at the nation's capital at the gleeble march for our lives. that's right, the march for our lives. that's what the students at marjory stoneman douglas high school, the student survivors of the valentine's day massacre. february 14, 2018 called this march. saying they would not just hunker down alone, would not just gapt we are their families and ask for privacy and prayers, that they were going to use this moment to change the world and that's exactly what they've done.

you know, the speech has ended with david ho gmbing g as well as emma gonzalez. emma gonzalez, 18-year-old student who took the stage in fort lauderdale. it was just days after the killing. after her friends were killed. 14 students, three faculty and she gave one of the most powerful 11-minute speeches i've ever heard. amy goodman host of democracy now! joined by a 16-year-old high school student from new york. beacon high school who is a student journalist. it's great to be working with you today, soledad. soledad: thank you for having me. amy: what are your thoughts talking with the people? on radio you might not be able to see their signs but there's a whole group of people that spann contain usely gathered behind us. the signs today were very

creative with very powerful messages. one girl had a sign that sabs -- that said i was voted most likely to protest the n.r.a. your thoughts? soledad: so many students. a lot of young kids with their parents, kids from ages 6 to 18 protesting with their parents because they're scared for their lives and they don't feel safe in their schools, which is supposed to be a safe space for us. there was a million moms march in 2000 and it's crazy that we still are marching today. so i think you get a lot of that energy. amy: you make such an important point. the police are going through. there are actually tanks in the streets. i will say it was very difficult to get to the front of this march, this rally. it was a rally because -- it's an ambulance.

it was a rally because people couldn't move. there were so many hundreds of thousands of people here but you talk about the anniversary. the march for our lives, today, march 24, fell on the 20th anniversary of the deadly jonesboro school shooting. at the time in 1998, the jones broken attack was the second deadliest school shooting in u.s. history. what was that? four students and a teamer were killed. 10 others injured. there have been eight deadlier school shootings in the past two decades, inclumeding virginia tech, sandy hook. marjory stoneman douglas. there have been three others that have had the same number of fatalities as jonesboro. at your school, beacon high school, a public high school in new york. do you feel safe? and i think before the parkland shooting -- especially because in new york we have different gun laws so a lot of us feel safer but after the parkland

shooting, especially because parkland was known to be a very safe school. we feel that if we don't fight, it could happen to us next. it's definitely affecting all students across the nation. amy: what were you most interested in finding outas you took "the nfl today" mike and made your way into the crowd? soledad -- soledad: it's great how about intersectional viewpoints there were. we had a lot of people with the game flags, a lot of people saying black lives matter. it's not just gun violence, 's also black -- violence in gay and latino communities we need to talk about. i saw a lot of mothers, people of color who are scared in their own communities. amy: i want to go to some of your interviews and comment behind us, some of the people

that are holding up signs are, for example, we may be kids but we're not kidding and tell us, more people or more guns? we're going to talk about all that in a minute but i want to go to some of soledad's interviews on the streets as she waded into the crowd and crowds, that's putting it mildly. hundred of thousands of people came from across the country, even though there were 800 sibling rallies and marns around the united states. los talk las vegas, ngeles, san francisco, dallas, paul beach, florida. the president of the united states wasn't here. he was golfing at his private resort in mar-a lago but people made their voices and their slenls very loud and clear, standing in front of congress demanding change. let's go to those interviews,

soledad. soledad: i'm soledad, the correspondent for democracy now!. can you say your name, age, and why you're here? >> i'm 17 and i'm here because i want to take action against gun violence and show that -- exercise my voy. soledad: are you from a certain group? i see you have a teacher -- go to parkland education studios. >> we're here today from philadelphia. soledad: how has gun violence affect your community? >> in my community there's a lot of gun violence. i lost a cuzz on the gun violence and there's a lot of people in my community who have died because of gun violence. gun violence is so normalized in our community that when this issue first was brought to me in school, it was like i'm so used to it that i didn't have much of a reaction to it and i don't think it should become

that normalized that we become desensitized to the effects of gun violence. and irked exercise my voice for gun control because it's gotten outs of hand. soledad: can you talk more about the incident with your cousin? >> he was an innocent bistander and he was shot because he knew somebody, who the person was looking for so he was killed because hem didn't tell them where the pepper they were look for was. he had his whole future ahead of him. he was about to start his own business and everything. it's happening to a lot of our youth. he was only 20 and something should be done. soledad: what are you hoping will come out of the march today? >> that it will get enough attention and that at least somebody in congress will feel

pressured enough to do something about what's happening in our country. soledad: can you tell me your name, please? >> leo. soledad: what are you draw something >> i'm coloring my sign. soledad: what is your sign of? >> it says -- kids, not guns. soledad: can you tell me your name? >> ivy. soledad: can you tell me what you're coloring today? >> mother of death. soledad: thank you so much. >> can we talk to mom? >> there's two moms. >> ok. >> i'm adera. you know, we have family who lost their lives. we have students who have lost their lives. we're here for parkland, chicago, oakland.

we're here for all lives, we're here for black lives. we're here for parkland lives. soledad: what do you hope will come out of this march? >> i hope that when enough white people are involved in the conversation and willing to and up and be heard that politicians will pay attention because clearly like a lot speakers say, which -- when chicago kids, urban kids die. it's our problem but hopefully there's enough attention and motivation to know that it's time to reactivate the assault weapons ban and to look into gun legislation in general that ill cans kids all over the country and adults for that matter, and women. soledad: has it touched you personally? > gun violence in yes.

i've lott lost students at a high school in oakland. i have a cousin who died in 1998. nima, andre, stephanie. soledad: can you tell me more about what happened? how did they die? -- her as killed by loved one was charged with her death. and wasn't convicted. so i think that women of color who are killed due to intimate partner violence, that was her story and she was a student of mine who graduated the first year they started teaching high school. my cousin was at a teen club. he was almost 19, 18 years old and was shot by another teen and other students, you know, and in california getting

killed, you know, living their lives. you know, outside of -- walking, talking laughing, enjoying life. so none in schools but i'm in a school and i'm here with other educators so our children's lives, i'm from oakland. we have to do earth quake drills. get under a deck -- desk and put your hands up. now our kids are worrying about going to a class, like those amish girls who died in pennsylvania. somebody comes to the scoop and kills a lunch -- bunch of young girls. nobody act. i thought after newtown, something would happen. a bunch of white children. and nobody happened. young people, teenagers, maybe that will make a difference.

stand by all the women and parents who lost their children in newtown. soledad: what do you think about the n.r.a. saying that teachers should be armed with guns? >> i think arming people that you have the risk of killing young people, particularly young people of color. arming them is not going to solve the problem we have. maybe that will solve the one in whatever million kids that -- not us. a teacher is trained not to hurt somebody, not to murt one of their students. we know what those guns are for. senseless deaths. i don't believe that that would serve to protect particularly black and brown children. maybe some other kids but not our children. soledad: thank you so much. hi, i'm soledad. the new correspondent for democracy now!. can you say your name, age, where you're from and why

you're here today? >> i'm delores and my age is 21. i'm a teamer in -- i come together with -- today for my students it's just about them. >> an becca. i'm sure -- here because i want to end gun violence. >> i'm 18 years old and i'm here to fight for the lives of the people that can't anymore and also for the people that are still alive and at risk. >> i'm 10 years old. friendship brooklyn, college. brooklyn, new york. i'm here because i want better gun reform and i want to ensure that children will not go to school in fear. because they should be worried on their next class, now about if there's a gun present. soledad: can you guys show my

your signs and talk about them? >> my sign, one thing that i found in common was that after every student, almost every news outlet tries to fight to have the most eye-catching headlines and it would either be the ledliest. these lives are just turned into numbers. and we're not people anymore and a lot of the pime time people are like, this time, many more people died so beshed care. why should we die if it's 10 people? we should care if it's even one. >> she's our best friend. we were doing this like together but i decided to go for something simple. no more silence, end gun violence. i thought the atches good,

frays that would end with people. i thought that the message was simple and straightforward so i thought that it would like stick. soledad: have you guys been affected by the lockdowns in schools? have you experienced them? >> we had a lockdown when we were in middle school and at the time you really don't wants want to understand why. we didn't take it seriously but after what happened in florida, i had to speak to my principal about lockdown, the walkouts and participating in this massachusetts. me and a couple of other students organized this together, for our school to together come together. i was talking about we'd have to hide behind defense and not even call tourp our snarnltse i can't believe their feeling. i can't imagine the students who had to actually take that how they're feeling right now.

soledad: how has it made you feel growing up with mass shootings around you? >> i feel like to our congress money is scommornlt their own citizens weren't. we're the ones that elected him. some aren't even teenagers but soon they will be and they'll be able to vote. e're going to vote them out. soledad: and did you guys participate in the walkouts last weekend? >> we did. we're a private school and we had to take to be that into at can. . but we did talk to our principal about it and it was amazing. one guy behind a gun at us with his finger and then? someone gave the middle finger but you have multiple people honking their horns and screaming. they're proud of you and they

agree with you. and it was an amazing moment soledad: can you talk more about gun violence and how they're correlated? i feel like lot of people think this is a case reyes issue and it's no. i feel like when i'm specifically talking about something, i'm more at risk because i'm muslim and i feel like i could be started easily. because i know how it feels to be a victim, i don't want to make anyone else feel that way, especially kids. soledad: thank you so much. amy: those interviews conducted by our high school reporter soledad colon, who is with here be with me in washington, d.c. for at that time global march for our lives. our national broadcast here for democracy now!. i'm amy goodman. there are a number of people

here to talk about their experiences but first we wanted to go to one of the sibling rally. all over the country. we believe more than 800 and is was a young woman named samantha may in parkland, florida. she was injured on february 14, valentine's day. she was shot in the leg. she's 17 years old and gave a people supreme today at that rally. >> i was taking notes in my psychology classroom when thehe horrid sound of gun shots oakoed the walls to have 1200 building. on t the 14th of februruary i w shot in the knee in my fourth-period class radio. my classmates and i led helplessly on the road. the horrifif tame that replays in my head will never be reminded but the need for

changege isover due. efore 17 lives were brutally taken from such innocent souls. it is time for immediate change. school safetety is often so simple that itit is overlooked. school safeties regulatations c be changed now. how can kids priorityize the subjects they're in school to know when they know their say. is not being ensured in their learning environment? how can one take their attention off of what is outside the classroom. a potential danger can be on theo side of the door waiting to shoot through it. it drowns moe with complete sadness no ever to realize that done. tragedy has to be

a murderer should not have been able to enter the hallway from which he aimed his gun from. the safest corner in my close room should not only fit one of my classssmates. how can one be safe with such a little internal class mamanage made? it's stickening sitting in class s now knowing that t the are so easy toreak. when we saw t the glass of the door prorningse all the killer had to do was reach his hand through h the door and turn the door knobs. at this point it doesn't matter that the door was lacack. . didn't matter that he were widening or slenl. he could have made it if we'd wanted to. he should have never passed a background check. could have -- should have

never opinion given the postseason to kill. a vicious murderer should have never been able to get his hadn't on such a debtly weapon. we need stiffer background checks to be stott people who so clearly should not be armed. plaust until we enact common sense gun laws, say. will onlnly be a suggestion, a suggestion that most people dream about but no one makes motions to change. safefety the fun an idea if we don't commake changes. the time for change is now. chirp should be able to be live more healthful lives. we need to change the say. of our students. one can only begin to feel safer once change is made.

my name is snanltsa mayer is in is why we march. amy: samantha, 17 years old, shot in the leg on valentine's day. february 14, 2008 at the marjory stoneman douglas. -- high school. the student survivors organized this historic march in washington today. the march for our lives. this is democracy now!'s global broadcast. i'm amy goodman with soledad colon who's been kicking some of the interviews too. high school junior from beacon highly. a public high school in new york city. we've got some people behind us. soledad: can you tell me your name and what your sign says? >> i'm norah hammel top and my sign says we live in a world here girls clovepting are more

morntoried than murder weapons. amy: explain what you mean, also with your t-shirt, students demand action. >> i've seen my friends get dress coded and have to call comb and get mu new pants because they had sthresm jeans on. -- when ticed that imy school has -- or my state, all you have to do is sign a piece of paper that says that you don't have mental illness in order to get a gun. amy: how would are you? >> i am 13. amy: you know a lot about your state rules. >> my mom is part of the -- i've learned a lot of it from you. amy: your best friend is next to you. what is your nainl?

page. >> it's says at first we were fighting for women's fights. now we we were fighting foreour chin's lives. amy: and why are you here today? because i'm very passionate about this subject and i'm trying to change this. i don't think my friends should ever be ashamed when this appens that it will be a deal. doip >> plain. amy: we have so lockdown. what do they do? >> witch to hide in a room and go to the farthest side of thth corner and actually y lock t th door but we actuallyy had a studenents where a peacher targ to docked the wall and we were tir filed. amy: do you know that this is a drill? >> yes, usualllly they give the

noumumentsd than this is a drir his one time they did not. amy: sop let's talalk to a mom here forest come from is a have beena. you're a teacher? >> i'm a college promp amount georgia southern university. we allow guns in our campuses. students my carry concealed firearms. so how does that mean -- make you feel? >> and mostly college are a the apex of risk of suicide and when there's a firearm present that risk increased by 3500 consent. amy: do teachers carry concealed weapons too? >> no, teachers are not allowed to carry those.

>> what do you pi of president trump airs push for more guns? >> more guns is not the answer. we need common sense gun reform and we need it do you. amy: hundreds of thousands of people came out for this march. we're going to ask the people at the back for stepping guard and thanks for joining us and actually taking off your courts. they said the cold makes them eel that -- that they're alive. amy: where are you all from? >> the bronx. eric: and tell us what your sign says? >> more people or more zpwhuns alexis roberts. >> job lan brown. >> we had our school participate in a national walkout on owens, marv march 15 and in five days we created a

school white. making posters. each killed has a victim and not to know victim they respected and had the entire school to see you again. they danced together again outside the 17 minutes in the community. amy: and the 17 minutes for the 17 people killed at parkland? >> yes, absolutely the it was 17 minutes. we happened student peachers -- speechers representing -- students prurn push running the whole thing and i put it together in about a week. i do that whether my students all of a sudden all the time. amy: before in march you were talking about the concerns about how seriously violence is taken in whiter communities and in communities of color around the county. >> definitely. it's this thing that all of a

sudden our voices are being heard or at least people around the are become more arave ware of it 6. balms black lives matters has been talking about guns for years. amy: what about the delegation of people have florida chicago? all communities got on buses and came to washington, d.c. and that group of people from a local parrish said we're talking about mass shootings here but we're talking in chicago about daily shootings. i want told ask a young man here, if you'd step forward. can you tell us what is on your post zphore >> showing how -- just one second. [siren] amy: there's an ambulance racing by. with ehope it's not another shooting. >> my poster is -- basically

our feelings how we can't take it anymore and once if -- and for all twoach stop guns and we pistols. pencils, not ime amy: how old are you? >> 10 years old. amy listen and what school do you go to? -- elementary school in maryland. amy: do you think you have something to team the politicians in congress right now? you're 10 years old. >> i would like to say that no matter how old you are, no matter who you are, everyone has the right but no one has the right to kill people whenever they want or however they want. >> when we had the walkout at beacon we also had a group, the elementary school across from us come out and there were very much chanting with us "n.r.a. go away." it's very powerful. starts from really young.

amy: i'd like to ask the young man, your elder to come guard. oh, he's your brother. do you show him respect? >> yes. amy: what is your name? >> -- abraham. where are you from? >> maryland. amy: me too. i lived there for a few years. >> this has been a big eye opener for me. and saying what you said means a lot. no one should be able to kill anybody where or how they want with any assault rismse or assive war -- zphb never again poster i really wanted to resonate with everyone saying that this isn't going to continues. this shouldn't continue this will not continue and it's up to us if they want that to stop or continue. and i'm just saying i don't want to see my little brother on this poster. i never want to see you on this

poster. you won't be on this poster, jaden. no parents will ever see kwlure child on a poster. those days are over. i'm telling you, they're over. my dad, everyone here. it won't happen. i love you so much. buddy. and this isn't for everyone here, it's for everyone. here, abroad, i don't care, i love you, buddy and these guns are not going to separate me from you. honestly, i can't, i can't. amy: and your poster says -- >> never again. amy: and never again is the slogan of this whole march, movement. on february 14 where were you when you both heard about what happened in florida? >> i was at my house. we were studying and it came on the news. me, my sister, my brother, my dad, my mom. we were all very sad and had

tears for the massacre that happened and we hope, as my brother said, never, ever again and it never will be. amy: and your dad is right there filming you proudly. can you tell us your name? your sign says not one more. >> my name is abraham and my ign is not one more. amy: what do you think of your sons as they stands here today? >> so proud of them to march for their lives and i'm proud of them, you know, for standing the school guns and should be a safe place. >> personally, when they started talking about having -- i always talk with my friends, hey, we see this controversy.

should we ban our guns and -- i know where i stand but i like to hear what other people have to say and they think people having guns, they don't want that in their schools. amy: i want to thank you all some for being here as we wrap up this broadcast. we want to thank jeff caray, adam brewing, stephen ames and christian kuukaw. jon hammle only the. boone, karl east, renee hell -- phelps. in new york city our wonderful crew, nate need ham. muhammad tajean. so many people to think who have made this broadcast possible and i also, of course, wants to thank my co-anchor today. high school reporter, youth reporter who started at indy kids, now at beacon high school

in new york city. soledad aguilar colon on this day where young people have made history. we're going to go out with comments throughout the today, singing today here in washington, d.c. at the march for our lives, the hashtag never again. the students saying they don't want to be part of a mass shooting generation. i'm amy goodman with soledad aguilar colon. thanks some for joining us and for all of our coverage on gugu control, on gun violence. on massacres not only in parkland but around the country and around the issues of policy, not only in this country but foreign policy. weapons sells, war. these are the issues we cover on show slow and the movements that challenge them. go to democracy now.org. thanks so much for joining us.

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- in mexico, every day, women are killed j just for being wom. so we use art as our language, to speak of what we are living. - - if you want to c criticize r country, use art as a tool for change. art as a weapon of choice.