Hundreds of students from schools in the DC area staged a walkout on Wednesday and marched to the US Capitol to protest the need of gun reform.
One of the protesters said they must take immediate action because they are angry that the National Rifle Association (NRA) “would rather have their guns than save the lives of children”.
US Representative for Maryland’s 8th congressional district Jamie Raskin came out to greet the students that gathered on the lawn outside the Capitol building, saying “America’s high school students are leading a revolution against political complacency and collusion with the NRA”.
The crowd of students came from several schools in the American capital and marched to demand strict gun regulations in the wake of the recent mass shooting in Parkland, Florida where a gunman killed 17 students and teachers.
The walkout was further motivated by yesterday’s failed attempt to pass a ban on assault rifles at the Florida State House. Legislators voted down a motion to take up a bill that would ban assault rifles by 71-36 votes.