— Rose Troup Buchanan (@rose_catb) March 24, 2018
On February 14, 2018, tragedy struck at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida as a school shooter took the lives of 17 innocent people. From this harrowing event, the student survivors were motivated by their intense grief and frustration over the country’s inability to deal with gun violence. Through the Never Again movement, the teens organized a massive March for Our Lives rally that, while centered in Washington D.C., featured satellite demonstrations around the world. Saturday, March 24 saw hundreds of thousands of people protest gun violence and demand sensible gun control legislation.
In Washington D.C., it was estimated that 800,000 people attended the rally—one of the largest in the city’s history. Young people gave impassioned speeches and made a big push to register new voters as part of a long-term strategy to finally change the current U.S. gun laws. “The 18-to-25 [age] demographic, they had a 1-in-5 voter turnout [rate] for the last election,” Cameron Kasky, a Stoneman Douglas student explained. “That’s embarrassing. If we can get more people our age voting, the steam will just pick up. Our politicians won’t be able to run away from the future.”
We’ll have to wait until the midterm elections in November 2018 to see how the tides have changed. Until then, marchers at the rallies amplified their voices with clever and powerful protest signs—some exposing the harsh realities of being a student today while others used pop culture to make their point. See a selection of the best signs, below.
On Saturday, March 24, people from around the world gathered to protest gun violence at the March for Our Lives rally.
Hopped out for a coffee pic.twitter.com/tbnO6nvbKN
— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) March 24, 2018
Led by the Never Again movement, teen school shooting survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida organized speakers and a massive push to register new voters.
“My college fund shouldn’t pay for my funeral” — Catja, a junior from Northern VA. pic.twitter.com/CiJHsiyLZT
— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) March 24, 2018
People also amplified their voices through powerful and clever protest signs.
Phil, a college student at George Mason U #MarchForOurLives @BuzzFeedNews pic.twitter.com/mQIrzVVkRy
— Stephanie McNeal (@stephemcneal) March 24, 2018
Hamilton sign spotted at the London #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/mb0oubLWKv
— Kassy Cho (@kassyapple) March 24, 2018
Shantay the kids stay! @RuPaul pic.twitter.com/bmEHuwiEBL
— Travis (@travisbythed) March 24, 2018
I walked up as she was explaining the reference to an older gentleman pic.twitter.com/KPyxmFsCAE
— Mary Ann Georgantopoulos (@marygeorgant) March 24, 2018
Possible contender for my fave sign of the day from Erica.
She made it at 1am last night, she said laughing! #marchforourlives pic.twitter.com/6ls8lU0MOC
— Rose Troup Buchanan (@rose_catb) March 24, 2018
I’m here outside the US Embassy in London for #MarchForOurLives for @BuzzFeedNews – good sized crowd already here. And here come the great signs. Becca Leland, 18, came up for Brighton for today — pic.twitter.com/61MbZxpjDI
— Rose Troup Buchanan (@rose_catb) March 24, 2018
Jamie,19, from Chicago @BuzzFeedNews #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/JTs35jEeEq
— Stephanie McNeal (@stephemcneal) March 24, 2018
I relate to this on a deep level #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/ESecoQoSCk
— Stephanie McNeal (@stephemcneal) March 24, 2018
These girls range from 10-12 years old and are at the #MarchForOurLives in Parkland pic.twitter.com/sLwPSPvf8k
— Alex Berg (@itsalexberg) March 24, 2018
“You can’t fix stupid.” #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Mqcb7SO3W0
— Ellie Hall (@ellievhall) March 24, 2018
Six billboards. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/MudG0YLwTk
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) March 24, 2018
Three Billboards In Washington, D.C. (2018), by Cece, Jillian, and Katie from Vermont. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/3RX46UIFXy
— Marina Fang (@marinafang) March 24, 2018
A woman just walked up to this young girl and asked about her sign. “There was a shooting at my high school this week,” she said. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/7I9IaJFosx
— Ben Krimmel (@BenKrimmel) March 24, 2018
March for our Lives signs already out here pic.twitter.com/Bw6e2DH1oO
— Kyle Cardine (@Kyle_Cardine) March 24, 2018
More signs here at #MarchForOurLives in D.C. pic.twitter.com/TLxPr2vmbN
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) March 24, 2018
“Schoolhouse Glock” #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/B69pqdFKmp
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 24, 2018
And the winning sign is #MarchForOurLives #GunReformNow #millenials pic.twitter.com/tTnW8Qas7k
— devon (@devonweber) March 24, 2018
Still paying attention. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/A0lAosS7PN
— Alexandra Miller (@alexinthesee) March 24, 2018
Here’s a look at the incredible turnout:
People left their discarded signs in front of the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Sign graveyard at Trump International Hotel #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/t7POV9xlKJ
— Jen Kirby (@j_kirby1) March 24, 2018
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