Home Opinion ‘March For Our Lives’ Because No One Else Will

‘March For Our Lives’ Because No One Else Will

by Kate Dobbs

From New York City to Los Angeles, thousands participated in the March For Our Lives protests. The student-organized protest was incredibly successful and had over 400 sister marches around the world, according to the March For Our Lives website.

The message “Enough is enough” was crystal clear having students no longer wait for the politicians sitting in Congress to initiate change. The students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School officially got the ball rolling. Students from around the world were eager to participate in the march because they all share the same fear.

I was fortunate enough to participate in the March For Our Lives event in Morristown, New Jersey. At this event it was announced that there were over 13,000 participants. This march was overwhelmingly successful and by far just the start of a movement.

Although I am in college now, the fear of a school shooting still resonates deep within me. It is a disease that has plagued our nation.

Every time I walk to class, the thought that this class may be my last remains in the back of my mind. I have a younger brother in high school, and I fear for his safety while he is at school. Schools are for learning and safety, not places where students fear for their lives.

I know that the March For Our Lives protest was not a one-time occurrence. There will be much more retaliation against the lack of regard for the students’ safety in schools. Soon enough these high school students will be old enough to vote and will change the American government for the better.

An overlying message that was made at all of the protests was if our current politicians are not willing to vote for the safety and benefit of the people, then their days in office will be numbered. The hundreds of thousands of Americans who came out to protest against gun violence show that the students of the 21st century are a force to be reckoned with.

To me, it is tragic that the responsibility of forcing change in governmental policies has become the job of students. You would think that would be the role of college educated adults who would know what is best for the country and its children, but I guess not.

Students should be attending school to gain an education. They are already overwhelmed with standardized tests, quizzes, exams, essays and endless assignments, but now they have one more concern. In addition to the workload students face, they also must balance a social life and relationships in order to remain sane through their difficult times.

Now, in the 21st century, along with the normal stresses of being teenagers, these students are activists. They are being robbed of a safe education, childhood and are being forced into a position where they must stand up for their own safety. As terrible as this is, it is necessary. Adults and current political leaders have had their chance to change and have failed miserably and because of their failure lives have been lost.

March For Our Lives has grabbed the attention of the world. The time for change is now and it is in the hands of the youth. Politicians should embrace the impending change that is coming or should quake in their boots. The next generation is coming and it certainly isn’t coming quietly.

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