Celebrities across the US have spoken out in support of the Parkland students who are taking bold action to prevent further school massacres.
Survivors of the Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have begun a powerful movement which will see people from across the country take to the streets on March 24.
The March For Our Lives website states:
March For Our Lives is created by, inspired by, and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar. In the tragic wake of the seventeen lives brutally cut short in Florida, politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now.
Parkland Survivors and others that are standing up through the media are so brave and are true role models. I’m speechless at their courage. And so proud that these kids and young adults are our future. #GunControl #ParklandStudents The question now is will our leaders listen.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) February 19, 2018
Stoneman Douglas High School junior Cameron Kasky wrote on CNN, "I’m just a high school student, and I do not pretend to have all of the answers. However, even in my position, I can see that there is desperate need for change — change that starts by folks showing up to the polls and voting all those individuals who are in the back pockets of gun lobbyists out of office.
“Please do it for me. Do it for my fellow classmates. We can’t vote, but you can, so make it count.”
"It's going to happen again unless we take action. And I'm so proud of these kids." –
Montel_Williams</a> says about the Florida shooting. Watch on <a href="https://twitter.com/hardball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">
Hardball https://t.co/NPt2Stplea— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 20, 2018
Emma Gonzales, a senior at the high school spoke at a rally on Saturday, saying, “Every single person up here today, all these people, should be at home grieving. But instead we are up here standing together, because if all our government and president can do is send thoughts and prayers, then it’s time for victims to be the change that we need to see.”
Thank God for kids like Emma Gonzalez and her classmates. I am so proud of them for demanding change on sensible gun control. https://t.co/RQ7rH7LFeD
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) February 19, 2018
Students from the high school are travelling to Florida’s capital of Tallahassee to lobby their legislators to create better gun laws.
“We are going to talk to them about common-sense gun safety,” Chris Grady, 19, told the Sun Sentinel. “We hope to get a lot done, but we also know how politicians are.”
HUMANS!!! I stand with the students speaking out against gun violence. Thank you for using your voices to say #NeverAgain. https://t.co/FBafjXmpmn
— Tim Daly (@TimmyDaly) February 20, 2018
So much is written about what’s wrong with teenagers — as this group of brave, committed survivors of the Parkland shooting is showing, there’s an awful lot that’s right! If they’re the future, there’s reason for tons of optimism! https://t.co/H9mQaxh3gB
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) February 20, 2018
“We don’t want to take away people’s guns. But no one needs an AR-15. They are only used to kill,” said Jose Iglesias, 17, a senior.
John Oliver makes impassioned plea to discuss gun control after Florida school shooting https://t.co/r9XYrtmLTE pic.twitter.com/8ZjUewLyHm
— billboard (@billboard) February 20, 2018
“This is about us begging for our lives; this isn’t about the GOP, this isn’t about the Democrats, this is about us creating a badge of shame for any politicians accepting money from the NRA and using us as collateral,” Cameron Kasky said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around.”
Cameron good talking to you last night. All of your bravery is amazing. I stand with you guys. #march24 #marchforourlives https://t.co/oKG8MmhzaI
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) February 18, 2018
Students take battle for gun control to streets https://t.co/JmjN7ixmN8
— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) February 19, 2018
“People are saying that it’s not time to talk about gun control. And we can respect that,” Kasky told ABC’s This Week. “Here’s a time: March 24th in every single city. We are going to be marching together as students begging for our lives.”
I love these young people. So aware. So responsible. So organized. So courageous. Heroes. https://t.co/3q2K0YsSsu
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) February 20, 2018
Kids like #emmagonzalez will change the world. Listen to her ! https://t.co/yq1nfmUmxf
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) February 18, 2018
So far the most impressive show of support has come from George and Amal Clooney. The Clooneys have donated $500,000 towards the march, and George said in a statement, “Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School. Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country…”
To learn more about how you can help create change, visit the March For Our Lives website.