On Saturday, March 24th, thousands of people joined the march at Lake Eola to protest against gun violence. Of the thousands, many Timber Creek students went as well. Sophomore Kennedy Joy Foristall participated in the march and said, “I wanted to participate in the march because it is an issue that affects me and so many other kids my age, seeing that I am still in school and the recent tragedies could have happened at any school including our own, and I really want to prevent that.” Many have been, and still are, affected by the Parkland shooting that happened on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. Of course, the families and friends of the victims were affected, but so were the students. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and students all over the country. The students, the youth, of this nation have a desire to be heard, “Because this movement has recently been amplified by America’s youth, I think this is a powerful and effective time to make our voices heard,” says Foristall. Thousands of students are very passionate about this issue and want their voices to be heard.
Sophomore Ella Rychlik said she participated in the march because she wants to be heard about the issue, “It was really people like David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez really show that our voices can be heard and this is our fight, so I jumped at the opportunity to speak out.” The young activists that have started the March for Our Lives campaign, have inspired students all over the country to speak out for what they believe it’s right. Whether it’s just retweeting a tweet or actually going out and participating in a march, kids and adults are trying to get their voices heard about gun violence. “…I’m looking forward to participating in anything and everything that the Parkland kids or anyone else organizes in the fight for common sense gun laws” says Rychlik. Many people would agree that gun law changes are necessary and just common sense. Others don’t think so, however, so people are peacefully protesting for that because no more lives should be lost due to gun violence.
Numerous people across the country have spoken about the issue in their own community and even on national television, “Listening to the various speakers reflecting upon their experiences as well as watching the broadcasts of those who spoke in Washington DC were eye opening and extremely moving” says Foristall. The Parkland students that are determined to bring change to the nation, but they have received criticism on media. People have said they are “just kids” and are acting based on emotion. The teenage activists and protesters beg to differ, however, “The march really showed me how much we as teenagers can make a difference, even in national issues. It definitely motivated me to keep the momentum of the march for our lives going…” says Rychlik. Teens and adults everywhere are speaking up about this issue and want change. Their movements have and continue to inspire many other teens and adults to get their voices heard. With their powerful words and movements, hopefully, gun violence can be minimized and the number of deaths that happen due to guns, can be reduced.
Tragedy struck Parkland, Florida on February 14th, 2018, but it doesn’t have to happen again. It shouldn’t have happened in 1999 at Columbine High School, it shouldn’t have happened in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary, and it shouldn’t have happened in 2018. Gun violence affects so many people across the United States and change is needed; it needs to happen now. No more lives deserve to be lost due to gun violence and no lives should have been lost due to gun violence. Banning guns probably isn’t the best ultimatum but something needs to change. Whether it is more restrictions, background checks, etc., buying a gun shouldn’t be harder than buying a puppy or a new house. The teenagers and kids of this nation are an inspiration to people all around, no matter how big or small, and they are going to change the nation, one march at a time.
Anywhere, anytime. Sophomores Ella Rychlik (left) and Kennedy Joy Foristall (right), hold up signs that say “As a girl I hope to have as many rights as a gun one day” and “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.” “…the Parkland tragedy really opened my eyes to the fact that this could happen at any moment to our school or people that I love and we shouldn’t have to live in that kind of fear” says Rychlik. Photo Donated.
Standing as one. Thousands at Lake Eola come together to protest the gun violence happening recently, which has been giving people hope for gun law changes. “Perhaps one of the most promising things I saw happening was the collaboration of generations of concerned citizens, with most adults proudly following and encouraging the youth leaders. I think it is an indication of what is possible for our generation to achieve” says Foristall. Photo Donated.