March for Our Lives in Orlando
Virginia is a passionate progressive and now leads a group of women activists in her retirement community. It's not safe to ignore politics.
The letters looked drenched in blood. NO MORE... the sign cries out.
Virginia Allain
March for Our Lives in 2018
On March 24, 2018, millions of people across the United States, and even around the world, marched to demand gun safety legislation to protect the lives of children in schools. Over 800 marches took place on a Saturday to show that the world had had enough deaths from assault rifles used by angry young men.
I traveled in a bus filled with 56 men and women from our retirement community south of Kissimmee. Each of us felt a burning need to make our feelings known about the horrors of rampant, uncontrolled guns in the United States. Just a few weeks prior and a few counties away, 17 Marjory Stoneman Douglas students died in their school when yet another mass shooting took place.
We cannot continue on in this way. Below, I document the march with photos of the day that we stood up and said, "things cannot go on this way any longer."
The rally sign over the stage at the March for Our Lives in Orlando on March 24, 2018.
Virginia Allain
What Was It Like?
On a sunny, 80-degree day in March 2018, people came from all around Central Florida to participate, to make a statement about gun safety laws. They left their daily activities and took time from their busy lives to make their feelings known.
No more thoughts and prayers, it was time for action. It was time for legislators to listen to the people and make changes in the nation's gun laws. It was time to cut the ties to the NRA (National Rifle Association) and to listen to the people.
The sign says, "Is your gun more precious than my daughter's life?"
Virginia Allain
The Signs Tell the Story of Citizens Fed Up With Gun Deaths
There were teachers with signs. On said, "Students and teachers' lives matter. Never Again." Another said, "I am a teacher, not a killer. It's time to teach gun sense in America. Make our schools safe."
There were children with t-shirts protesting the lack of safety in their schools.
There were retirees who had marched in the sixties for Civil Rights and against the Vietnam War. Now, they carried signs saying "I'm marching for my grandchild to go to school without fear of being killed."
Photos by Virginia Allain
Virginia Allain
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The other side of her sign says, "Protect my grandchildren from guns."
Virginia Allain
Senator Rubio and the NRA Were Under Attack!
The people seeking safety in schools and other public places were angry at the NRA for their role in the gun proliferation and the many deaths from guns in the U.S. There was also awareness of people in Congress who took campaign donations from the NRA and then blocked legislation that would control assault rifles. Florida's Senator Rubio is one of the ones receiving a great amount of money from the NRA.
The sign on this wheelchair says, $1.05. That equals the amount of NRA lobbying money received by Senator Rubio. When divided by the number of students in the state of Florida, it comes to $1.05 per student.
Virginia Allain
A giant check shows the NRA donations to Senator Rubio.
Virginia Allain
Virginia Allain
It Was More Than a Sunny Day in the Park: Those at the March Sought Changes
Besides listening to inspirational speeches about the issue of controlling assault weapons and making our schools safer, people took the opportunity to be politically active.
There were booths for registering to vote. Many candidates for upcoming elections had tents and showed their support for gun control. Petitions were passed around collecting signatures to get initiatives on the ballot.
Booths gave people the opportunity to register to vote in upcoming elections.
Virginia Allain
Signing a petition to end gun violence.
Virginia Allain
Slogans for Gun Control Signs
Here are some ideas for signs to make for your next march to protest lax gun laws.
- If teachers have to carry guns, the president should have to read a book
- We can end gun violence
- Fear has no place in our schools
- This isn't Right or Left. It is Life or Death.
- Protect kids, not guns
- Guns don't kill people, legislators do
- There should be a background check before the NRA is allowed to buy a Senator.
- Thoughts and Prayers are not enough.
- Actually, guns do kill people.
- IMAGINE a future free from gun violence.
- Fear My Vote
- Grab 'em by the midterms
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2018 Virginia Allain
