live coverage kicking off the march for our lives here in washington, d.c. thank you for being with me this morning. >> my pleasure. >> this has been fun to do this. we have been watching history. >> of course, we sure have. right around this time i hand off to my sister from another mother as we like to say. >> and our brother. we have made ourselves all family. >> that's right. >> the voice and the feeling and the emotions. >> never have i been more proud to live in broward county. >> yep. >> broward county florida has shown the entire country the meaning of activism. these kids are so smart and dedicated and calm in the face of, they are standing their celebrities and we'll be with ariana grande.

>> it is amazing. >> go get warm. >> all right, thank you guys very much. >> good morning and welcome to "am joy." we are two hours from now. estimated of half a million people will gather blocks from the white house for our march for our lives. this event has been organized by students from stoneman douglas w high school who lost 17 classmates. the survivors have turned their shock and grieve action of a tired response to mass shootings in america. >> they say that tougher gun laws do not decrease gun violence, we call bs. they say guns are just tools like knives and are dangerous as cars. we call bs.

>> that's good. >>. >> just behind me even as we speak, many of the parkland activists are gathering with hundreds of thousands of fellas and students and including kids from the dc area who lived with the trauma of gun violence in their community for years and years. they are joined by thousands morallyi more rallying across the country. they are still calling it bs and their young voices are heard. joining me now, tremaine, tell me what's happening now where you are. >> joy, what is amazing is we are still two hours out and we are expecting hundreds of thousands to be here in dc. i don't know if you can see behind me. this crowd stretches back several hundred yards and people from all over the country. i spoke to a family from north korea and new york and one thing that has been common throughout is the adults in the situation, the parents, all referred their

questions to the children. they said they want to end gun violence, enough is enough. even young people that never been politically active have been engaged by this. a family who lost a brother, a young man lost his twin brother to gun violence, he says it does not matter a mass shooting or urban gun violence, this needs to end. parents say we have not gotten the job done in generations, perhaps, it is time for the young people to lead. again, already can feel the excitement out here and folks who have traveled far and wide wanted to make sure they get here early. we are a few hundred yards from the state here. throughout the day there will be speakers and you know people singing and performing different acts. the draw here today is that folks want to hear, get their voices out there. what is amazing is generations, people from different cultures and geography. i saw one sign that says gays

for gun control. you have young people with signs that said love our children and not overtuur guns. i would say tens of thousands of people out here, it is going to be excited out here because of the energy and the emotions, these young people have had enough. >> msnbc's tremaine lee, we'll check in with you live throughout the show. thank you, joining me now from parkland florida is nbc's maya rodriguez, give us the update where you are. >> reporter: only about a mile away from marjorie stoneman douglas. look at all the signs that we have here. we call bs, that's a rallying cry out hereaft after what emma gonzalez says over a month ago. they are expecting between 20 or 30,000 people here marching from this park.

joining me right now is samantha, thank you so much for being here. you guys are not students at margely stoneman douglas but you are students here attenborough ward county. why is it important for you to come out? >> i am here to support my community and everyone -- >> we are the next generation, this is our generation that's fighting for what is right. these are necessities that need to happen. this is not what our government should be like. we need unity and this is what we are fighting for here today. that's why we are here to come and support everything that happe happened 59 days ago. >> reporter: can you believe it is just 59 days and all of this. >> our generation. >> what we have and the impact that we have on today's society and this is why we are here today supporting our community. >> reporter: what would you like to see happen now? i know everyone is reaching out

to their lmawmakers and they wat to see something change. >> everything else that everyone else wants to see change. i want asusault rifles to be gone. they should not be here. only people who are trained to use them should be using them. that's it. >> not only assault rifles but more laws on gun control in general. all guns are there to protect us and not everyone should have their hands on them. we don't need to live in fear and need guns to support ourselves and to keep ourselves safe. that's not what we are about here in america. >> reporter: salesman mantha an arianna, thank you for joining us. you can see tens of thousands of people are here. they'll be marching a mile down in just a few minutes with the program here. back to you, joy. >> absolutely, maya rodriguez, thank you so much.

joining me now is valley jarred. >> this is amazing. >> unbelievable. >> i want to put up a map of all of the places and where all the rallies are taken place worldwide. it is incredible of these kids in stoneman douglas and parkland florida are putting this together this march and we'll get that map up to show. 800 around the city. >> it is not just washington focused. it is spreading around our country and the world and these young people out of tragedy and out of profound grief have started a revelation. you cannot stop them now. i met a young man who lost his brother two years ago from chicago. he says i am doing this for my brother. he cannot be here and i want to make sure nobody else loses their brothers. there is a profound pain but also energy and enthusiasm. >> it is not just washington focused, it is sending a message

to that capital. it is letting washington know that these kids, some of them are not old enough to vote but their parents can vote and they'll turn 18 and they're focused on the politics here. they attracted attention from celebrities here. president obama actually sent a letter. >> he and mrs. obama. talk about this, i am struck by the fact that i will never forget president obama you know as a father just breaking down really talking about the sandy hook children. those little kids who were killed. >> it was our worst days in eight years. >> and nothing happened. >> exactly right. nothing happened in washington but i will say a lot happened in the sandy hook community, they organized an entire promise design to try to alert young people to recognize mental illness after gabby gifford was shot, she and her husband started an effort every town.

you and i were just in new york, we heard what they have been doing there. a lot of the work have been going on for a long time but it did not catch the energy. >> the momentum. >> what do we have that's so special? >> they have master social media. that's my sense, first of all, they are smart, they are fear less. they don't care about the nra. they're not getting money from the nra and they have been through a tragedy and they are motivated and they know how to use this powerful tool >> yes. >> this is a new age. you and i unfortunately are a little out dated. >> exactly. >> they know how to do it. >> yeah, they are not dependant on debtigetting permission. they are empowered. that empowerment makes them believe that they can make a difference here. i like one of the young people yesterday said this is the beginning of a marathon. they are realistic and they know

it is going to take time. they're not taking no for an answer. >> this is in addition showing the people the meaning of activism and sticking to it. this is an incredible example of what good public schools. >> yes. with teachers who are dedicated. this is the public school system in broward county florida at its best. >> why does not every person around the country have that opportunity. >> yes. >> and also they are amazing. public speakers. they are poised and they are not nervous and not intimidated by anything. >> at all. to talk about some of the changes that happens in the states. there is a little bit of change. oregon banned people from convicted or domestic violence from buying their own guns. that passed on february 22nd and rhode island, englishedstablish

flag policy on guns that will keep guns away from the people. washington state banned the sale use of bump stocks on march 6th. these kids have gotten much more done than we have seen in columbine in 1999. >> they are just beginning. they are going state by state and they're going to be here in washington. they are recognizing their power and influence. look at all the companies that stopped add ter vivertising wit nra. that's happening because of these young people. everybody is getting in this. so i think that shows you what can happen. >> do you feel this could change the culture? one of the things, this gun culture in this country, do you see it starting to change because of this. >> i hope so. i heard from you and a lot of people who carry guns, look, i am willing to put down my

assault weapons. i rather have a young person live. you are waiving public policy. what's more important to you, having children to go to school? my daughter is grown, i did not realize that schools are having training sessions. >> my kids went to school in florida. >> yeah. >> is that really what we want for our children? we want them to go there and learn. >> as a parent myself who has kids in broward county school having to have the meeting where you meet in the park so you know where to meet your kids when there is an active shooter in the school. it is ridiculous, no other country in the world does this to their children. >> you see austria, they had one tragedy and changed the law, bo boom, just like that. >> we are changing things here. valerie, it is great to talk to you. >> thank you, you sat down and the sun comes out. thank you very much. we have live coverage for the march for our lives right here on msnbc, right here, don't go

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assault rifle. >> my service weapon is m-16. >> it is the same. >> as the ar-15. > >> the same weapon that kills hundreds of people in the deadliest mass shooting in america. >> i know the power of this firsthand. >> there is no reason. >> no reason. >> why anyone other than military or law enforcement should have an assault well upon like this. >> that was a powerful new ad by a group called veterans for gun control. it was tweeted out by a lot of people on friday including emma gonzalez. one of the parkland students who organized the "march for our lives." the historic rally taken place in washington, d.c., not too far

away where i'm siting right now. marches are gathering in parkland, florida, the birthplace of this movement. joining me now, the mayor of parkland. thank you jurfor joining me. this is amazing of what the city of parkland have been able to accomplish. the country had struggled with since columbine in 1999, what is it about parkland that is so special and students and your community is able to pull this off? >> parkland has been a close knit community and active committee. we had hurricanes here in september and as soon as people got their electricity back, the first thing they want to do is know how they could help each other. we have been that community reaching out within our city and beyond our borders to help. this students have been nothing short of incredible. they taken to social media and let their voices be heard. in florida, we have seen wonderful things happening as

far as people on both sides o f the political isle coming together and finding where there is common ground to make a difference and to make sure that something like this never happens again. >> yeah, indeed, as a former broward county, i know very well how powerful the nra is there. marian hammer, you know she runs that state assort of a permanent governor. yes, a modest gun bill did pass in march as a direct result of the parkland massacre, three days waiting period, ban sales of bump stocks and funning resource officer and mental health services, allowing some staffs to carry guns in school and raising the minimum age to buy a firearm of 21. a few things not in the bill. there were no assault weapons banned there. ar 15 sales were not banned. and background checks are not strengthen. do you foresee those things that

were left off in the agenda that i am sure you heard a lot of the parkland students heard. can that pass in florida? >> i believe we need to focus on what with amazing fleet that did pass. the fact that bill did pass the session, if someone said that a month ago, no one would believe that's possible. there is a commitment in the city and the state towards students safety and we need to keep focusing on that so our schools and community are safe. >> yes, absolutely. you know big up to parkland, florida, mayor kristine, thank you very much. your march looks impressive behind you. have a great day. >> thank you. thank you very much, joining me now is u.s. senator is amy klobachar. you, more than most knows that the same power that they have in

florida, they over hold it to capitol hill. same question to you, we have seen gun reform measure passed in several states, including florida. is it possible, can you foresee significant gun reform passing through the united states and senate and the house. >> i can. the reason i can say it is what we are seeing behind here. for years, law enforcement was pushing for background checks and rules and some limits on assault weapons then the moms tried after sandy hook and they are in my office today, that bill went down. it was the saddest day. i had to tell them people did not have the courage to pass that when they had the courage to come to washington. this is the tipping point. you have students, young people who are saying to their parents and grandparents, we like to hunt, too, we are a big hunting statement in florida. we don't understand how a background check is going to hurt hunting. that's how i look at these

things. you can feel it and not just here. we are having 13 marches in minnesota, i met with kids here that came out here on a bus. >> yeah. >> they're already to go and there is just a feeling of movement that we have not had in this issue since i started working. >> i love to ask the question behind the scenes when the cameras are not there, i am going to ask you one of those. are they more afraid of these teenagers than those sandy hook moms? >> i think -- i would not known if i use the word fear, i think there are more of them coming at them because their friends and grand kids and talking to them all the time and asking them innocent questions like why cannot we go to school and feel safe? why do you need a bump stock. those kinds of questions, i think you can ask a different way than a mom telling you what to do. i am a mom so i can say that. >> yeah, the other power is these parkland kids have moms and dads, their parents can vote

and who has more influence over the mom and the grandma than the teenagers. >> i cannot believe the number of teenagers calling our office how can we register early as we turn 18 by a certain day. they are attune to this, they are voting for those 17 people and so many of the young people that cannot vote anymore because they perished in that tragic murder. >> i played a little bit of the veterans gun reform ad at the top of this block. now you are seeing veterans going forward. that weapon, the ar-15 is what i use in combat. do the veterans become the next force that's sort of an ir -- >> that's a powerful group as our hunters who are looking forward, you know, we respect the second amendment and we want to go out and hunt but we don't

need this kind of weapon. we lost 6,000 women to domestic violence in a way of homicides with guns. >> yeah. >> that's more than we lost brave troops in iraq and afghanistan. the figure i pointed out to the president at the white house when i was at the meeting. that issue is also part of this because you got men that are willing to stand up that say that's wrong. >> yeah. >> you got to go beyond the groups that have been talking about this and move to veterans and move to police officers, move to these young boys and girls that have been talking about. you change the face of the movement. that's what happens with gay marriage. >> indeed. >> that was a lot about barack obama coming up. >> who influenced barack obama? >> his tekids. >> last question of donald trump. have we learn of the ominous

bill that they're afraid of the nra or he's afraid of the nra. can democrats get onto him to get him to sign the gun reform. >> he committed ten times that he wanted to see universal background checks. that's not in their package. have he said he's against it? no. when we get to that next moment where we push for the background checks, we did make it better in the last bill that we voted on which we have not been able to get it done. we did stuff on schools safety and research and guns which have not been done. now, it is time to turn to the background checks. he says he supported it and all these kids saw him say it. amy klobachar who can tolerate the weather. >> no problem, you don't need a coat. we got much more coverage for "march for our lives." coming up here on "am joy" on

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we are live in washington, d.c. where hundreds of thousands of young people, parents and te teachers are gathering to support for their lives, around the globe to agitate for gun reform. this event was organized by the brave parkland students who survived the school shooting last month that killed 17 of their classmates and staffs. they are pushing for a chain. here with me now, briana fisher and zoey garden. they are apart of the school's this week. ladies, thank you for being

here. >> thank you so much for having us. >> this is exciting. not only are you guys are from stoneman douglas high school which is an amazing school. you are on the school's paper. i am going to start with you, lanie, tell me about this opportunity and how did you become the guardian editor this week. >> it was an opportunity that i feel we could not put down because i feel like if there is anyone to cover the story, it is us because we witnessed it firsthand. it is our community that's grieving. we are the best ones to cover. >> brianbriana, tell us, wem the outside looking in. from your vantage point, what's the story you are looking here. >> we sent out a memorial issue that went to the press and focused on the 17 sixties and

so and -- and poetries of what happened and on our website we had a section of our heroes and people that helped out during the shooting and what happened. and dwyane wade came to our school and we have given so many opportunities and now we are covering and going up the students and entering them and why they are marching and why they are here and why it is so important to them. we have such a great perspective on both sides being an activist and journalist. >> zoey, that's one of those questions when you guys continue your career, it always comes up. >> yeah. >> you experience this yourselves. you are coming with a perspective and a point of view and as you said sort of an activist point of view. how do you balance that and telling the story? >> i think it is really important because i want to be the people's voice that unfortunately are unable to be

here, the ones that don't get to voice their opinions about this issue because they suffered from it. i want to be their voice and their megaphone to call out for change. >> lanie, i am sure you met students from all over country. tell us about it. >> we were in new york last week and we did a panel there and a couple of students were coming up to us and saying you're inspiring to us and we are looking up to you. we are going to fight with you and i told them, first of all, thank you, we are just students who want to create change and we hope they march along with us today. >> are you surprised at all by the size and scale of what you guys came up on? >> i am so surprised. to us it is crazy because it is just people that we know and people i have in class or seen in the hallway that are starting this march. you look around and the security guards, oh, they're working for my friends but that's just so crazy, the amount of support and

the love we are getting is surreal. >> zoey, do you feel that because of so many parkland student that is we have seen. david hog and others were already involved in things like media and in things like theater at the school. is that the secret element why you guys are effective? >> i think they have strong voice and they are so powerful with their words so like them being so use to that and being in drama and debate and other things they are, they know how to do these kinds of things and talk to people and really impact everyone. >> and you guys as well. tell us about what you guys do on the paper, we'll start with you. >> i am the staff writer, for the memorial issue, i was given the honor to write a profile. >> wow. >> basically, me and brie assigned on the student's profile. we dig into someone's life and you look at someone, yeah, they

are nice and play soccer, we want to discover the true people they really were and not just the picture that you see on the news. they are individuals who needs to get their voice out of the world. >> i am also a staff writer. so it is really amazing to have the opportunity to honor her and give and tell the world her story and let everyone know who she truly was. >> what about you zoey? >> i am also a staff writer but instead of writing a profile, i wrote a hero story about a boy named chris mckenna who came into contact with the shooter. it was hard when i was interviewing him and it is crazy to see from all different perspectives like people from our school where they were. >> i am sure you have a faculty adviser on the paper, have they

stepped back and let you guys control in the process. >> in a sense, we call her mom. we absolutely love her. she's been the biggest backbone and support of this paper. she's letting us do our things and deal with it but at the same time we have to use this platform where we should be the voice of the people who cannot. >> is this something you want to do long-term as journalism? >> i kind of really found my true passion and how important it is to speak out on important issues like this and to be a true journalist and not just ask people for questions but find out the real purpose behind everything. so after everything happened, it made me appreciate journalism. >> absolutely. >> you all are brilliant. i have to get your ages and everyone would be shocked. i am still going to have you do it anyway. >> i am 15. >> i am 15.

>> i am 16. >> wow. you guys are a couple of years away from being able to vote but not too young to change the world obviously. you all are brilliant. thank you to lanie and briana and zoey gordon. i am so honored to meet you guys. this is amazing. >> thank you very much. will you guys e-mail me your piece, i definitely want to read them. >> the march for our lives movement, the social movement that's led by young people. during the civil rights, the students played a critical role for the fight of justice. here is our documentary "hope and fury." "the movement and the media." take a listen. >> protesters get attack and the media covers it. then came things what can i do now? that's when he decided to have the children's march. >> these are the 1100 children of birmingham who demonstrated

in the streets and went to jail and suspended and expelled from school. >> following doctor king's tactic going to jail deliberately. unlike albany, the recruit for the so-called non violent. "hope and fury" premiers tonight on msnbc tonight. keep it here on msnbc for more live coverage of "march for our lives."

we are here at the "march for our lives" in washington, d.c. where we are watching history being made. joining me now tremaine lee. go tremaine. >> reporter: that's right. congressman, i can imagine this is a proud moment for you. so many people have come and stand up to your constituents. what does it mean? >> it is been more than 17 weeks and people slaughtered from stoneman douglas high school. since then, students stepped up and said we don't want to suffer from this anymore and nobody should be living under the gun violence day after day. that's what started this and now you see remarkable response from students all across the country. it is incredibly powerful and i am so proud of these students. >> reporter: do you have faith

of what this generation can do? >> i know they're going to do it. this is a defining issue for this generation. this is turning a lot of students into political activists and they're not going to rest until they succeed. we change the law to help keep them safe. >> reporter: thank you congressm congressman, we appreciate it. here you go, joy. >> thank you msnbc's tremaine lee and congressman ted doyle. >> joining me now, our contributor jason johnson and our correspondent jeff. i am going to start with you. we got a statement now. >> that's right. the white house have heard this and this is as message to them. from secretary lindsey walter, we applaud the many courageous young americans exercising their first amendment rights today and keeping our children safe is a top priority of our president which is why he urged the

congress to pass this and sign it into law on friday. the department of justice issued a rule to ban bump stocks. what do you make of the fact that the white house whipped out this statement? >> they whipped out the statement after the president was dispatched to trump's golf course there. we won't see any tweets from him for the next few hours. the two initiatives the white house points to fall short of what the students from parkland called for. remember he says he's supporting raising the age by which certain people could buy assault weapons. that all changed. then the white house came out and support of a range of initiatives that all fall right in line with the nra. >> absolutely. >> we saw careen, some modest gun reform provision in this ominous bill that the president got rolled on by chuck and

nancy, right? but, do you sense that republican members of congress understand the threat at their door. these are young people who can't vote and something substantially have changed but they are not showing it yet. do you see it coming? >> what needs to happen for many years, the gun control issue has not been an electoral issue. it has been we cared about it and we want common sense gun laws meaning democrats and we talked about it but now what's going to happen is we need to change the equation and make it and turn it into an electoral process. >> yeah. >> that's what we'll hopefully see and what these students are talking about come november. they're saying we are going to be old enough to vote. that's when we'll see the action. right now nra, they are in the back pocket and they are not going to do anything. >> interesting, you know jason, we have had this conversation about the parkland students having the special residence because they are relatable to

average americans, sort of kitchen table. >> right. >> you have members of the parkland members, you had david hog came out and said 25% of our school are black. it is the media that's ignoring those students. this is a movement that the media may not be catching up with it. >> the white house certainly have not caught up with it. i see a lot of working class white people here. this is all that america is concerned about this kind of issue. i like the fact that these young people said there are kids talking about black lives matter and gun violence in chicago and detroit. i don't think the republicans realize this, they'll realize it this fall. nol one wants no one wants to get shot. >> republican members who are not here, do they get this is a movement they cannot stop? >> they certainly get it. the question that i keep oncoming back is the nra has members dispatched in every state all across the country and

many ways, this is asymmetrical fight. >> they were. >> this is the tipping point. as the case with many crucial movements, the march or the rally is the physical representation. >> can i just add, the nra is under water and polling that we have not seen before. >> you cannot over look the fact that it is florida, it is a swing state. if this happens in a blue state -- >> a swing state that's run by the nra. >> absolutely. >> we are going to have you goo is back the next hour. we are live, we are waiting for the start of the "march for our lives." stay with us, right here on msnbc, this is history in the making happening right now. >> we have to fight to create change. we have to stand up against the status quo, we have to call on congress and keep calling until

they hear our message.

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this is every lawmaker out there, no longer can you take money from the nra. no longer can you fly under the radar doing what you want to do because we are coming after you. >> the kids have come for the nra and not only are they winning hearts and minds, they are being recognized for the work they have done in such a short time. their admirerers include the last president of the united states and the former first lady. in the letter to the parkland survivors they write not only have you supported and comforted each other but you have helped awaken the conscience of the nation and challenge decision makers to make the safety of our children the country's top priority. joining me now social justice advocate and the reverend al sharpton host of "politics nation." we met at an event where there were parkland students gathered but there were activists

gathered who were in the struggle in terms of gun violence in the african-american community for a long time. there was a moment when you said what about the work we have been doing and the response was to say we understand that we are in a precision of privilege and we want to impart that on to others. is that intersection ality part of why this movement is working? >> i think in the conversations i had with many parkland students they have a clear understanding of what is wrong with the gun violence movement and why they need to be so conscience of their privilege and how they are interacting with the communities and if we are going to beat back the nra we have to join together and find common sense ways. >> is it difficult to see the support that they are now but in previous cases what activists try to make the same case the country has not necessarily

listened? >> i started the work when i was 15 years old because my brother was shot and killed in philadelphia. i'm encouraged the fact that these young people recognize that they have power and their power lies in how we can work together. we are pushing back. >> we know at a certain point bob moses when the images of black kids getting fire hosed and bitten by dogs had started to run down they were like we need to bring white college students. >> that was always the strategy. what i said when the parkland students came reaching out i said it was important. we sent buses in from around even from headquarters. i wanted to be here because i wanted to say even when others didn't reach out when it was us we need to reach back since the parkland students have set a different tone because we are still being shot.

at the same time they will understand other issues like we are in sacramento today dealing with the police shooting there. i think that the maturity of a lot of the young activists in our community and the maturity and growth of the parkland students is something reminiscent. >> people haven't started because they are kids. you started when you was 15 years old. >> i became youth director. he appointed me when i was 13 years old. i was chairman at 16. when i look at the youngsters don't feel odd, it was the children's march in birmingham that turned it around. >> there is no age requirement to change the world. >> every movement has been led and supported by young people. our job is to say why is it their responsibility when it should be intergenerational

collaboration. >> they are doing the work that we adults have failed to do. thank you very much both for being here. stay with us for another hour of "a.m. joy" live at the march for our lives in washington, d.c. 'sup, world? it's the box with 30% savings for safe drivers. coming at you with my brand-new vlog. just making some ice in my freezer here. so check back for that follow-up vid. this is my cashew guy bruno. holler at 'em, brun. kicking it live and direct here at the fountain. should i go habanero or maui onion? should i buy a chinchilla? comment below. did i mention i save people $620 for switching? chinchilla update -- got that chinchilla after all. say what up, rocco. ♪

i'm so sorry to each and everyone of you that is out there attacking us as witnesses and some of the victims of this incident it is saddening to see how many of you have lost faith in america. >> welcome back to "a.m. joy." the future is now. here in the nation's capitol where as many as half a million young people are preparing to march for their lives today. today they march and in november they vote and so do their parents saying the message that parents must prioritize over obedience to the nra or be voted out. tens of thousands of supporters of this movement are raising their voices in more than 800 cities across the country and around the world. all joining the parkland students in saying never again. >> everybody needs to step up for what they believe in. that is when things will start

moving. >> it's about every school, every movie theater, every park, every community. >> and the world will change because our voices will be heard. >> joining me now from new york city is lawrence jackson. tell me about the march there in nyc. >> reporter: we are right outside of columbus circle on the west side. as a new york city resident usually people are jogging around. today the numbers are saying close to 100,000 in mid town on the west side. signs like nra protect kids not guns, protect kids. the system has no future for the youth. everyone here from older to younger, mothers and fathers here together. kids as young as 6. what is going on? mom and dad brought you out

today? stop the nra. why is it important to bring your daughter to march for our lives here? >> my daughter is a high schooler. for me the violence -- and not only schools but in society. so we feel very strongly about it. >> for you, your mother felt it was important for you to come out today. we are gathered here against gun violence. is there a mutual goal? you want to feel safe when you are going to school. is there a mutual goal as a family on today? >> we want every family to feel safe. that's the main goal. and i feel like those are in trouble and need to be safe, not just us. >> lawrence here on the west side of new york city.

back to you guys in the studio. >> thank you very much. lawrence jackson, appreciate you, man. joining me now from parkland, florida where a march is being held, maia rodriguez. . >> reporter: there are thousands upon thousands of people out here. this event got started about 15 minutes ago. students speaking, music playing right now. the main message is you have to get out and vote if you want to see change. join us right now. you are out here earlier tell us about why it is so important for you to come out here and join so many more people here in parkland. >> i teach right across the street. i have been teaching here for 15 years. this is such an important thing to make sure this never happens again. we want to make sure that this

is -- our voices are heard. >> this only happened in february. are you surprised at how quickly all of this has unfolded? >> i'm not surprised because these are our kids and i know these kids. i have seen them grow up this is what they do. >> it's changed forever. the world has changed and it's time. i'm sorry. it's emotional. >> i go to school a couple

blocks away from marjory stoneman douglas. i know most of the students. it's about time we see change. to be honest as a kid not just a person of the area but a kid of autism we believe that children who are afraid to speak out people with special needs should speak up. mr. president, if you are watching, i am watching you and you better darn know that i will make sure that you sign that bill into law and you will change this or so help me i will vote you out. >> it is very emotional. the main message that they want to get out is voices can be

heard and the way it is heard. >> incredibly emotional there. thank you so much. joining me now is congress woman stephanie murphy of florida whose district boundary is across the street from pulse night club where a gunman shot and killed 49 people. you ran for office you say motivated by the pulse night club shooting. why do you suppose that things are so different now? that tragedy was so shocking at the time but then nothing happened. i want to ask you the same question. why do you suppose things are so different now? >> as you know this is a community that has been deeply effected by gun violence. you are seeing people gather here as they have over the last few months in support of parkland. i know that it is different this time because i have seen their

advocacy have an impact on our legislative process. a year ago i introduced a bill called gun violence research act. it wasn't until after parkland and the students raised their voices that that bill became a bipartisan bill. we started to gather more support. i'm proud to say that on friday the president signed into law the effective end to the gun violence research ban. it's a small step in the right direction and it wouldn't have happened without these american citizens raising their voices and having their opinions heard and holding their legislators accountable. i know it is different this time. >> and what do you think of the red flag bill that has been introduced in the united states senate by senator marco rubio of florida that would encourage states to allow law enforcement to remove weapons from anyone who poses a threat before court

proceedings? what do you make of that? that is a pretty big change for congress to do something like that. >> i think it is fantastic that you are seeing bipartisan efforts to introduce measures to keep our communities safer. i think that is evidence of step in the right direction as it relates to gun violence and how we keep our communities safer. >> do you think that speaker ryan will bring a bill -- would bring a bill like that to the house floor? we know the power of the nra through the purse and the money that they spend supporting republican members of congress. >> certainly that in the past the power of the nra has had a lot of members of congress and legislators held hostage but i think that now you are hearing from the people. peopleerant going to stand for lawmakers who are in the pockets

of corporate gun manufacturers any longer. i think lawmakers are starting to understand that. i'm hopeful that that pressure will create opportunities for us to have a chance to vote on common sense gun safety measures on the house floor. >> and do you see among your colleagues on the other side of the aisle a recognition that things have fundamentally changed? these marches are all over the world, all over the country. the nra's approval ratings are deeply under water. do your colleagues on the other side of the aisle recognize that things have changed? >> i think they have. the example i gave earlier, i didn't have a single republican on a bill that would just simply allow the study of gun violence so that we could get to good data and facts to inform our legislative process. i didn't have a single republican who wanted the facts until after parkland. then i was able to get republicans on board. to me that is a testament to the fact that both sides of the

aisle are starting to recognize what an important issue this is to the american people and that the american people will no longer tolerate elected officials that aren't willing to act. >> one of the many ways this movement is intersectional is that they are not forgetting that it isn't just on school campuses but also places like pulse night club. thank you so much for being here. up next we will talk to student activists here at the march for our lives. stay right here. >> we decided we know how this is going to end up. we know the politicians will say thoughts and prayers and that is all they are going to do. that is not what we want to happen. we want this to stop. it's time to break the pattern. definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting results.

it's not about how you go down it's about what you do afterwards. >> it's about every community. >> from the very start this has been a student-led movement and hundreds of thousands of these amazing young people are converging on the nation's capitol to demand action on gun reform. joining me now from right here in washington is nbc's -- tell

me what is happening where you are. >> joy, it already seems like an historic day. hundreds of thousands of people pouring into the nation's capitol, most are here. we have been following a group from newtown, connecticut. now they join hundreds of people walking down seventh avenue for the main event and there is a lot of young people here but also a lot of families. i want to introduce you to a family from chicago. they made it all the way here. >> hi, joy. >> tell me why are you here from chicago? why was it so important for you to be here today? >> as the kids from parkland have so brilliantly stated and supported, this is an issue that effects all of our kids. our children in chicago and a lot of major cities around the country have a problem getting

safely to and from school. so it isn't just violence in schools. it's all important. these are all our kids. >> it's gun violence in general she stated. she is here with her two grandchildren. how are you today? >> i'm good. >> you are 11 years old. tell joy why you are marching today? >> i'm marching gauze gbecause violence is a bad thing and it shouldn't exist. it is important for people to understand that just because if something bad happens that doesn't mean you have to take it out on other people. >> these are some very smart kids. i want us to keep walking here because there are people from absolutely everywhere holding signs. there are children over here and i want to thank this family for having joined us. let's keep talking to more people. where are you coming from? >> we are coming from winston salem, north carolina.

>> reporter: all the way from north carolina. why was it important for you to be here today and for you to be with your young daughters here? >> i think it was important for them to witness this historical moment. their safety is number one to us and i feel like right now in the schools they're not safe. there needs to be more security brought in and their lives need to be taken very seriously. >> reporter: thank you so much, joy, north carolina, chicago, connecticut. you just sense the energy and the vibrancy of this movement here in washington, d.c. today. joy, back to you. >> thank you so much. when the little kids talk i'm starting to cry. joining me now is president of the black student union at dupont manual. both from louisville, kentucky.

thank you all for being here. first of all, this is amazing. tell me why it was important for you to be here. >> because first off i'm a student and also i'm a black student. being here with all these other students i'm not only like showing my support i'm also showing the nation that this is not just a white student issue. this effects everyone. i definitely have to be here to show that student voices matter. >> it's interesting because one of the students from parkland made the point that 25% of that school of parkland are black students and the media has missed that it is an intersection movement even within their group. tell me why it was important for you to be here? >> this is part of history. what we are doing right now is making history. they say this is the biggest student movement ever. this is bigger than vietnam. this is bigger than anything

that has ever happened before. this is a moment where we get to stand up for our country and we get to say that we are by the people and for the people. right now you are not doing your part of the job. you are not holding up your part of the bargain. we have to come out here from california, from minnesota, from kentucky to say you all need to stand up and do what is right. and it's sad that we have to come out here to have to tell them that with 500,000 people we have to tell them that when this is something that so many people stand for. >> how old are you guys? >> 17. >> there is something shameful that teenagers have to instruct adults on how to protect them. it is our job as adults to protect you. the fact that students have to come out here and demand it is sort of sad. there was a study that started in columbine more than 187,000 students attending at least 193 primary and secondary schools

have experienced a shooting on campus during school hours which is really terrifying. there is a student survey done of kids 13 to 17, 63% say they feel safe in school, 31% saying they don't feel safe at school. do you feel safe at school? >> now it is hard to feel safe at school. i feel less safe in my community. i love how the emphasis is this is a gun violence issue because gun violence effects schools, communities, churches, clubs, everywhere. it is hard to feel safe at school because it is like a war zone. we have these drills where we are trying to fight the shooter down and running and screaming. it's hard to feel safe. i feel like i'm in a war zone. >> this is not just a school issue. we had on a congress woman whose district had the pulse night club shooting, the shooting in las vegas.

gun violence in communities where we don't talk about it. can we solve this issue just focussing on schools or do we need to focus on guns? >> focussing on schools is a great step in the right direction and this movement is a great step in the right direction. in order to make sure that everyone is feeling safe and everybody in their own communities is not being killed when they are just trying to go home or when they are sitting on their porch at night. i was at the museum seeing a photo of a little boy who was shot in chicago just sitting on his own porch. we need to focus on guns as an issue. it's great to have guns out of schools. if when you are going home you are still in danger what did we do this for? we have to focus on everything. we can't just focus on this and say the issue is over. >> it is a difficult thing to do in a state like kentucky where both senators are very much for the nra.

it's not easy to do. >> we are going to do it. >> are you hearing back from the politicians in your state? have you started to hear from them? >> not from the republican. mcconnell, where you at? >> what do you want to say to them? >> we need him to start paying attention. it's great that you're here in washington and that you can pay attention to what you are doing here but you not paying attention to what is going on at home. you need to listen to your constituents. we shouldn't have to come here to see you and to be refused at the door. you have to listen to your people. we're constituents. what we have to say needs to be heard and he doesn't want to hear that. >> if he were to tune in and watch right now what do you want to say to the very powerful politicians of your own state? you're from the home state of the senate majority leader.

what do you want him to know? >> i want you to know that we are here and we won't -- if you are not going to give us that we will get everyone to vote and vote you out of office. if you want to keep your job give us not what we want but what humans need. we need common sense gun reform. get rid of assault rifles. >> when do you turn 18? >> september 25. >> we are registered. >> you are making the connection that you believe this is about being in the voting booth. >> definitely. we do have some very inflexible congressmen. maybe we won't get gun reform the next day but nonviolent direct action takes time. one thing we can do is get people voting. we are going to vote people in office out. >> absolutely. and what happened in alabama,

does that give you guys sort of a fresh start to say you can have substantial change even in a red state. people aren't listening to their constituents. they can get voted out there. >> it really gives us hope that things can change. kentucky has been a very red state. we have very good politicians who proudly displays his nra rating who says we don't want you to die in school. here is how we are doing things to fix it. if mcconnell can't step up to the plate then we have to say you can't be our representative anymore. >> absolutely. >> kind of like she said, if politicians have an a rating by election day you are going to be out. that's basically saying i don't care about your lives. >> what do your t shirts say? >> never again. >> the teenagers are teaching the adults. hopefully we are all listening and absorbing and learning.

thank you both for being here. so much more live coverage of the historic march for our lives is coming up. let's listen to the rally in parkland, florida right now. one of the fathers of a student who lost their lives at marjory stoneman douglas high. >> since the day that changed my life i have decided that i will not stop fighting for change. i can stand here today and tell you all that the 17 victims' families will not stop fighting until we make this world a better and safer place. fire fighting is a very dangerous profession.

we have one to two fires a day and when you respond together and you put your lives on the line, you do have to surround yourself with experts. and for us the expert in gas and electric is pg&e. we run about 2,500/2,800 fire calls a year and on almost every one of those calls pg&e is responding to that call as well. and so when we show up to a fire and pg&e shows up with us it makes a tremendous team during a moment of crisis. i rely on them, the firefighters in this department rely on them, and so we have to practice safety everyday.

utilizing pg&e's talent and expertise in that area trains our firefighters on the gas or electric aspect of a fire and when we have an emergency situation we are going to be much more skilled and prepared to mitigate that emergency for all concerned. the things we do every single day that puts ourselves in harm's way, and to have a partner that is so skilled at what they do is indispensable, and i couldn't ask for a better partner. if you can speak, speak. if you can march, march. and when you can vote, vote. >> the young people marching today in washington and all around the country realize their power in speaking up and showing up to change the world they live in. they also understand the true power and real change begins with voting.

today's marches include a nationwide initiative to register high school students to vote ahead of the mid term elections in november. joining me now is founder of next genamerica which is one of the organizations that are leading youth voter registration here today. millennials are a very large generation. when you combine generation y and z. are they your focus in terms of voter registration? >> we have a program called next gen rising to go out and register and engage and try to encourage to vote millions of young voters. and we are absolutely focussed on that because we believe that they are as you say the largest age group in the united states and they voted about half the rate of other american citizens. we think it is really important that they be part of our democracy.

>> we just spoke with two 17 year olds who are both already registered to vote in kentucky. they were very particular about their politics and who they see is on their side and who is not on their side. i want to throw you statistics. millennials only 29% identify as republican. that is versus 41% of my generation, generation x. that is versus 45% of boomers and 51% of the silent generation. one of the things that republicans must be concerned about is when you register the young people they are registering as democrats. how does that play into what you are doing or does it? is what you are doing about a part of the politics? >> this is the most diverse generation in american history and most progressive generation in american history. since they turn out we think they can change our country and change the world. when i listen to them today i

hear them insisting, that elected officials respond to the people that they act and ignore the money from the nra. i love the generation and their sincerity. >> indeed. i think the whole country joins you in saying that. joining me now from right here in washington i want to go to nbc who has parkland hero, american hero emma gonzalez with her. >> we do have a parkland hero with me. emma, tell me a little about what today means to you. you were instrumental in organizing today. it's happening. >> it was a lot to get here. i don't think any of us are technically heroes because all we did was keep the door open for everybody else to speak and it is something that should have

been done long ago. >> days after parkland happened you and your fellow students said we are not going to take this anymore. tell me about how this came together. >> we ended up in cameron's house and we were planning stuff on the floor and people were giving us information and taking calls nonstop because we wanted to talk to as many people as possible. it all started there. >> reporter: when you look out here at this sea of people literally tens of thousands of people did you think this was going to happen that sitting there planning this after school that hundreds of thousands of people would listen to what you guys were saying and show up to suppor support you? >> i don't know if i thought that, i wasn't thinking long term. i was thinking if cameron says there is going to be a march then there will be a march. >> what is the one thing that you really want to come out of

today? >> i want an incredibly large voter registration turnout. i want people who don't understand what we are feeling come away thinking i might understand this. i put this song on the play list, by the way. it is important that we have really strong voter education and voter registration and we have a lot of people who empathize rather than feel apathy. >> reporter: 800 marchs around the world going on today. >> over 800 and some happened yesterday because they are on the other side of the planet. that is wonderful. we are so psyched. this is the coolest thing that could have happened. even antarctica finally had a march. >> what have you been hearing from other students your age? >> we have been hearing keep going, look at this cool meme that i found. it is a good time. >> reporter: you met with some people here in d.c. yesterday.

tell me about those meetings. >> i can't really remember yesterday. i don't remember what i did. i can't remember what i did. >> reporter: i know the last month has been a whirl wind for you guys. what is next for you today? >> making the speech and having a good time with the people around us, the people who will be our family for years to come and focussing on getting a good night's sleep tonight. >> reporter: who else will we hear from? >> 19 other kids some are douglas students and some are other students effected by gun violence. we are hoping to get more voices out in the years to come. >> reporter: thank you so much, emma. good job out here. appreciate it. there you heard it. one of the organizers here that has made this happen today responsible for more than 500,000 people showing up today hoping to make history happen. back to you.

>> amazing. thank you so much. emma gonzalez, thank you. thank you, thank you. earlier this week i got the chance to talk with jacqueline and cameron, two of the other survivors of the parkland shooting who are also co founders of this incredible historic never again movement and co-organizers of today's march for our lives in washington, d.c. and around the world. one of the topics we discussed is the idea of arming teachers, an idea that is heavily favored by republican legislators as a way of combatting gun violence in schools. here is what cameron had to say about his teachers at marjory stoneman douglas high school. >> amazing teachers who might deserve a bigger paycheck. i would love to get money for their work and not for carrying a gun. we have had so many teachers in common, so many great teachers deserve to be recognized for teaching and not for packing heat.

to everyone at the nra and everyone affiliated with the nra we are not afraid of you. we will not be silenced by anything you have to say. we are here. our voices are loud and we are not stopping until change happens. >> days before today's nationwide series another school

shooting. this time at great mills high school in maryland about 70 miles south of washington, d.c. a 17-year-old student shot two other students tuesday morning using a glauc9. the gunman died hours later. one of the students he shot was taken off life support and died late thursday. joining me now is an all star mayoral panel. i want to come to the incumbent mayor. we are in jour city. this is incredible. >> we see thousands of students who have come here to petition the congress to demand some action. they are joining our kids from d.c., chicago and cities all over the united states of america. not only to talk about violence at schools but violence in our communities. >> absolutely. how ironic that less than two

months after this valentine's day massacre in parkland, florida yet another school shooting takes place in maryland. >> a lot of baltimorens are here. we brought 3,000 over from baltimore city who marched on city hall. we have to raise money privately so our young people could be here today because urban children are suffering just as children across this nation. this country has become the most violent country in the nation and this kind of violence has to stop. the assault weapons off the streets of our city. >> i'm glad you are here from a red state from a pro gun state. it's hard to get gun legislation through a state like florida. it's even harder in a state like florida. >> it is happening. we had this abusive relationship

with the nra for so long. they have been passing laws that are just crazy. in georgia a month ago we had somebody come in with an ar 15 slung over his shoulder to our police department, our public safety building and stood there. it is against the law for any police officer to walk up to him and against the law for a police officer to ask him if he has a permit until he points the gun at someone or begins to fire. that is a crazy gun law. that is the type of thing that nra passes just to show us that they control everything because our law enforcement agencies oppose that. >> absolutely. the d.c. laws are controlled by congress which is controlled by the republican party which is in a lot of ways controlled by the nra. change here can't happen unless it happens in congress. >> change happens here with our local legislature. what we have to guard against are congress people, senators included, that try to gut our laws and pass laws that they

can't pass in their own states particularly marco rubio has been an offender. >> from florida. >> he is moving for tougher laws in florida while at the same time trying to gut d.c. laws and only to get his nra rating up. and that's got to stop. i think these kids are calling bs on politicians who are answering to the nra and not to them. and they are going to the polls and are going to hold them accountable. >> two big governors races coming up. can this issue become a voting issue in georgia? >> it is a voting issue in georgia already. look at the diversity of the crowd. you see the kids learned today that there is an old law in the books that all high schools public and private high schools and all colleges have to provide a facility to register kids to vote. >> and that is the biggest fear

of the nra. >> this is a wakeup call for the country. this is an opportunity for us to change the congress, to also change the senate. this is a wakeup call and that is what our young people are calling for change. the nra ruled too long in our country. laws were made long ago before today. this is the most violent country in the world. so this change can take place but it will be about hearing not just the voices of those of us who advocate consistently on behalf of background checks but these young people who are impacted. i don't this can we often think enough about the impact on the minds of our young people. children should not be worried about whether they are safe in school but about becoming the next leaders of tomorrow. >> mayors deal with constituents on the most local level. >> these kids are scared. i have met children from parkland. i have seen our kids impacted by gun violence in our own city. if you talk to some of them

today they miss their friends and they want to feel safe in their school. >> i have walked around with both of you in your city. your constituents know you. >> for too long we have been buying the false premise that guns are required to be everywhere, churches and bars. it's ridiculous. these kids are saying that's not the law. there is no constitutional requirement that guns be everywhere. and we have been trying to structure our society around that premise. those kids are saying that is false. >> they are saying that is bs. i have to show you the hat i got from someone in south florida. broward county says that is bs. thank you so much to our all star mayoral panel. stay with us for more. >> we will not sit in classrooms with armed teachers.

we refuse to learn in fear. we rejeblct turning our schools into prisons.

all right. i have ventured into the crowd here at the march for our lives here in washington, d.c. i'm here with kenedra woods, 17 years old. where are you from? >> st. louis, missouri. >> why is it important for you to be here? >> especially for people in my community, the black community, people that really don't get their voices heard, they don't have an opportunity now, their lives were stolen, like taken away due to gun violence, they don't have an opportunity now. i feel like that's my obligation. >> how old are you? >> 17. >> i'm telling you, teenagers are so poised and together. are you focused at how big this is? >> yes, in a way. at the same time, i feel like our generation is so different, it's so unique. i've never seen nothing like this. i have so much hope for the future, i see the light at the end of the tunnel.

>> i think you guys are giving us hope. how old are you? >> 13. >> why was it important for you to be here? >> it's important for me to be here because lots of lives were lost. we're with the people that are oppressed and we're against the system that produces these mass shootings and things. >> incredible. let me talk to a parent who is out here. let's go this way. you've got a sign that says "basta," enough. what's your name? >> emilia. >> where are you from? >> maryland. >> why "basta"? >> enough, the government needs to do more to protect our children. that's why i'm here. >> absolutely. what's your name? >> nancy from fredericksburg, virginia. >> why was it important 4 to be here? >> to be a great country, we need to think about the common good. that's about keeping everybody safe and keeping these weapons off the street. >> let's find some more young

people. maybe you just look really young. what's your name? >> jeremiah strata, originally from southern california. >> why was it important for you to be here? >> definitely to support the lives of the lost and to look for solutions to our society. we definitely live in a sick society where things like this can even happen. >> we've got a lot of people here, there are more folks back there. what do you guys want to see in terms of change? >> i would like to see change and get the assault weapons off the streets, and change with the lobbyists' money with the nra. >> how many have you want to see an assault weapons ban? what's your name? >> michael from d.c. it's important for us to show solidarity, to show our leaders that we're going to hold them accountable. we want reasonable and sensible gun control laws. because the right to bear arms does not mean you have the right to have easy access to take someone else's life. i'm here to stand with these

young people because i see hope. >> how many of you are registered to vote? is anybody registered to vote at this event? you guys are already on it. let me talk to somebody here that may be a grandma. what's your name? >> i lean mcillen. >> where are you from? >> new york. >> why was it important for you to be here? >> i taught high school students in my other life. and i love them and i felt that i belonged here to support them. >> and what would you think would be change, what would change mean to you? >> change to me would certainly be the automatic weapons, but it also would be having some further gun control. i understand the second amendment. but there has to be some limit on it as there is limit on anything. >> as you can see, a well-rounded, diverse crowd. an amazing crowd here, enthusiastic. a large crowd. and this isn't even the largest crowd, guys. the march for our lives, easily

is going to exceed that 500,000, just going by what we see here. the other side of our setup that we had here are even more people stretching back as far as the eye can see. as you can see, people are determined and people know what they want. this is joy reid for "a.m. joy." we'll throw it to brian williams for my coverage. keep it on msnbc. see you. bye! you know what's awesome? gig-speed internet.

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well, good day from washington and locations around this country. brian williams here with you. we are now being told we're about five minutes away from the start of the program here in washington, the march for our lives, as it's been billed. this is the final push for member of this crowd now making their way so they can see the stage from any number of different vantage points in the capital city. we've been blessed with very good weather for this many people visiting washington. as you've perhaps heard if you've been following our coverage thus far today, there are 800 separate so-called sister events going on on every contine continent except for antarctica today. we'll be concentrating of course

mostly here in washington. again, about five minutes from now, our attention will go down to the stage, where the events will be under way. we're going to try to bring you as many of the speakers as possible, as many of the entertainers as possible. mariana atencio is down in the crowd, i'm told. we can go to her for some of what we're experiencing behind us. >> reporter: brian, you can see what is behind me. it is hordes of people just descending upon the nation's capital, hundreds of thousands of folks. an estimated half a million young people for what seems like a moment in a generation, brian. it is energetic, it is busy, it is historic. you've been talking about people coming from all over the country, from ohio, from minnesota. i personally drove in