Protesters at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
About 40,000 people showed up to rally near the Washington Monument on June 11 with protest signs and pins. March For Our Lives, a youth-led organization founded by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors, planned the event in response to the shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Activists, faith leaders and gun violence survivors spoke at the event in Washington, D.C., and demanded action. Two weeks later, President Joe Biden signed the most comprehensive gun safety bill in decades.
Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords’ National Gun Violence Memorial, referencing lives lost as a result of gun violence, displayed on the National Mall on June 11, 2022. The orange flowers represent the 5,000 person increase in lives lost in 2020. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
A protester holds a sign listing the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School and Robb Elementary School shootings at March For Our Lives on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
Protesters hold signs at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
Protesters chant at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C. on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
Many protesters were survivors of gun violence themselves or had lost people close to them to gun violence. The crowd included a mix of teachers, students and other gun control advocates.
Thousands of protesters from across the country attended the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
Manuel Oliver, father of Parkland, Florida, shooting victim Joaquin Oliver, speaks at March For Our Lives next to his wife Patricia Oliver and Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
David Hogg, gun control activist and Parkland school shooting survivor, speaks at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
“I was hoping to avoid speaking to you today,” Oliver said. “I was hoping to avoid having to attend a march like this one, ever again.”
Protesters hold various signs at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)A protester holds a sign at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)National Education Association President Becky Pringle speaks at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on Jun. 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
NEA educators stand behind Becky Pringle in support of gun control activism at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
Gun control activist and Parkland shooting survivor X González speaks onstage at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
Gun violence survivors stand behind X González during their speech at March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2022. (Daryl Perry/The Diamondback)
This event was González’s first speaking event in four years. They were one of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors who spoke at the 2018 March For Our Lives protest.
“We are the survivors of gun violence. From Columbine, Sandy Hook, Buffalo, Uvalde, Oxford, Michigan, Parkland, Florida, D.C., Chicago and everywhere across this country,” they said to open their speech.
González was unafraid to swear while expressing their frustration.
“We are being murdered. Cursing will not rob us of our innocence,” they said.
Through tears, González yelled out their critiques and demands. “You really want to protect children? Pass the fucking gun laws!”
