An army of thousands of students, including 100 student survivors of the South Florida high school where 17 were killed last week in a horrific shooting rampage, descended on the state capital Wednesday to rally for gun reform.
The rally in Tallahassee was led by students from Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the Feb. 14 massacre occurred, as part of the “Never Again” movement birthed following the shooting.
The teen activists called for a ban on assault-style rifles in the state like the AR-15 firearm that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz allegedly used to carry out the shooting at his former school, making it one of the most deadly school shootings in US history.
“No longer can I walk the halls I walked millions of times before without fear and sadness,” Stoneman Douglas student Florence Yared told the massive crowd gathered on the grounds of Tallahassee’s Old Capitol Building.
“The only purpose of an assault weapon like this is to kill,” Yared said. “The AR-15 is not a self-defense weapon. It is rightly called an assault weapon … we cannot protect our guns before we can protect our children.”
The young teen continued: “There is no better time than now to talk about gun control. If we wait, then someone else might become a victim too. Your children might become a victim too.”
Stoneman Douglas junior Ashley Santoro also took the podium set up at the steps of the Capitol.
“We will not be silenced — no more AR-15s,” said a tearful Santoro. “We aren’t trying to take away all of your guns, just the ones that are being used to take away innocent children every year.”
An impassioned Santoro pleaded: “Citizens of Tallahassee, citizens of the world, I am begging you to take action. This cannot go unnoticed any longer.”
Anti-gun activists and multiple Florida lawmakers, including Florida Rep. Kionne McGhee and Democratic House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, joined the student speakers in support.
“This is a movement because our politicians have failed us. The adults have failed you. You will not fail because this is your moment,” said McGhee.
A day earlier, the Florida House voted down McGhee’s motion to hear a bill banning assault rifles.
Cruz told the crowd of young people, many holding up anti-gun signs, “I am so glad that you guys are here because the House Democrats are sick and damn tired of fighting alone.”
The Parkland students traveled about 450 miles from South Florida to Tallahassee on Tuesday by bus, paid for by Democratic state Sen. Lauren Brook.
They plan to return home later Wednesday.
With Post wires
