Tens Of Thousands Take Part In March For Our Lives Parkland
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PARKLAND (CBSMiami) – Parkland students were flanked by tens of thousands at their version of the March For Our Lives Saturday morning.
"We cannot and will not be influenced by money and demand the same from our elected officials," said Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoo student Adam Buchwald.
"Vote for all the victims that were lost...our words will turn into real action," said Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Sari Kauffman.
This as more than 800 marches worldwide are planned for Saturday in support of the March For Our Lives event in Washington D.C.
The rally and march were held at Pine Trails Park, the same park where so many came with flowers, candles, and signs to remember those killed in the Valentine's Day mass shooting at the school.
Children, parents, teachers, even Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel filled the park to its limits.
"In my 58 years of life this is the first time I've come out for a cause," said Sue Moses, who attended the rally with her daughter Julie, a graduate of Stoneman Douglas High.
"I was in my class 3 hours, scared I would lose my life," said middle school student Ivana Chalik, who came to the march with her mother.
"It means a lot we've all come together, it's overdue," said Mariana Rodriguez who travelled to Parkland from Davie.
Samantha Mayor, who was shot in the knee and hobbled to the stage, called for change now.
"A murderer should not have been able to enter the hallway and shoot through the window of our classroom," she said.
Douglas students crowded the bleachers Clad in their school colors while demonstrators waved signs calling for an end to gun violence.
Max Schachter fought back tears remembering his murdered son, Alex.
"I would give everything to have one more second with the sweetest boy in the world," he said.
After the speeches, the crowd poured out into the street chanting "enough is enough" and "gun control now."
They marched more than a mile, some carrying signs with pictures of the victims.
"This changed our lives, woke us up. I could not have imagined this at all," said Parkland resident Hal Gursky, who took part in the rally.
The march ended at Stoneman Douglas High, where so many lives changed forever on February 14th.
A day that has now launched a movement.
People came from all over to show their support.
Marlene Barton flew in from Delaware to march with her friend Robin Pittman of Tamarac.
"We did the Million Mom March in 2000 in D.C. with our kids and when this horrible thing happened here, we talked on the phone and said whatever they do here she said she's coming into town and we're going to be here," said Barton.
Organizers estimated that 20,000 people attended the march in Parkland.
For those who couldn't make it to Parkland or D.C. to take part in those marches there, at least a dozen cities took part in sister marches across South Florida. Click here to find the one closest to you.
Zoom in on the map and click on each location to get details.
Locations in South Florida include:
- Tropical Park
- Doral
- Miami Beach
- Miami Lakes
- Pembroke Pines
- Weston
- Fort Lauderdale
- North Lauderdale
- Boca Raton
- Key West
- Marathon
If you can't make it to a march, you can donate to the GoFundMe page started by Stoneman Douglas students and sign the organizers' petition calling on Congress to pass legislation to address gun violence.
