Live coverage: Students march for gun control

Thousands of people are descending on downtown Washington, D.C., Saturday for the “March for Our Lives,” a rally to promote increased gun regulations that was organized by the survivors of the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting last month.

Protesters, including a number of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, are demanding more action from lawmakers to keep schools safe, with most calling for increased gun control and less influence by the pro-gun National Rifle Association (NRA).

{mosads}Half a million people are expected to attend the D.C. rally, with hundreds of similar events planned in every state and on every continent except Antarctica, including in several major cities.

Follow The Hill’s live coverage of the rallies throughout the day here:

 

‘March for Our Lives’ protest in DC visible from space

6:52 p.m.

A Digital Globe satellite captured an aerial photo of the thousands of protesters who joined the “March for Our Lives” protest in D.C.

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Protesters leave their posters outside Trump International Hotel in D.C.

5:50 p.m.

 

Protesters are leaving signs outside #TrumpHotel where more than 30 police are on patrol @AMarch4OurLives @DCPoliceDept #MarchForOurLives sign #GunControlNow #GunReform #pennsylvaniaave #gunsense #StudentsStandUp #StudentsDemandAction pic.twitter.com/3n28Uz3ND7

— Carolyn Raskauskas (@CarolynRask) March 24, 2018

 

Joe Biden surprises at Delaware rally

4:45 p.m.

Former Vice President Joe Biden surprised protesters in his home state of Delaware during Saturday’s nationwide protests against gun violence.

“Folks, too many people are dying,” Biden said in Wilmington. “Too many children are being hurt. But here’s the deal, you guys, you talk about how you’re going to change things. You are going to change things.”

 

Notable signs from marches across the country 

3:45 p.m.

The “March for Our Lives” rallies have prompted demonstrators to put together a varied collection of posters and signs with pointed criticisms of politicians, the National Rifle Association and the nation’s gun policies. See some signs here.

Organizers estimate 800K people at DC march so far

3:40 p.m.

Organizers of the “March for Our Lives” told NBC news that as of just after 3 p.m. 800,000 people had gathered in Washington, D.C., to attend the march.

Officials tell @NBCNews that they are estimating 800,000 people gathered in Washington, DC today for the #marchforourlives rally.

— Rebecca Shabad (@RebeccaShabad) March 24, 2018 

Trump’s motorcade uses different route as gun control protests planned on usual route

3:20 p.m.

According to pool reports, President Trump’s motorcade was diverted in West Palm beach, Fla., on Saturday as he returned to Mar-a-Lago. Local outlets had reported that “March for Our Lives”-related gun control protests were planned along part of the route the president usually takes to get to Mar-a-Lago.

Clinton calls students’ march ‘reminder of what is possible’ 

2:47 p.m.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton showed her support for the march, tweeting that it is a “reminder of what is possible when our future is in the right hands, and when we match inspiration with determination.”  

Listening to the students from Parkland and across the country today is a reminder of what is possible when our future is in the right hands, and when we match inspiration with determination. https://t.co/fhiEBIw15B

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 24, 2018  

Newtown, Conn. students support Parkland students at march

2:32 p.m. 

Newtown, CT students unfurl banner in support of Parkland students.

“Newtown wants change. Parkland wants change. The world wants change. Give it to us now!” https://t.co/8Z9XgVEhF3 #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/FL63eSjhTq

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 24, 2018

Rubio calls for ‘common ground’ while activists call him out

2:11 p.m.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the subject of many Florida student activists’ ire on stage at the rally, tweeted that “making a change will require both sides finding common ground.”

Today many are peacefully exercising their #1A right to march for gun ban. Many support gun ban. But many others see it as infringement of #2A that won’t prevent shootings. Protest is good way of making a point,but making a change will require both sides finding common ground

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) March 24, 2018

MLK’s granddaughter at march: ‘I have a dream that enough is enough’

2:04 p.m.

Yolanda Renee King, the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr., addressed the crowd in Washington, D.C.

“My grandfather had a dream that his four little children would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” she said. “I have a dream that enough is enough, and that this should be a gun-free world, period.”

“I have a dream that enough is enough,” Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, says at #MarchForOurLives. pic.twitter.com/efrj7r0RmD

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) March 24, 2018

-Avery Anapol

John Lewis at gun control march: I’m proud to wear NRA’s ‘F’

1:37 p.m.

Civil rights activist Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), speaking at a march in Atlanta, said he is “proud” to wear an “F” rating from the National Rifle Association.

The NRA gives elected officials letter-grade ratings on gun issues. 

“Never give up. Never give in. Keep your faith, and you’re going to have a victory.”

Rep. John Lewis joins #MarchForOurLives rally in Atlanta: https://t.co/9chFUZoG4x pic.twitter.com/X2d3EVMkvs

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 24, 2018

Obama: ‘Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change’

1:12 p.m.

Former President Obama tweeted in support of the protests.

“Michelle and I are so inspired by all the young people who made today’s marches happen,” he said. “Keep at it. You’re leading us forward. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.”

Michelle and I are so inspired by all the young people who made today’s marches happen. Keep at it. You’re leading us forward. Nothing can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 24, 2018

Student makes specific demands of Congress

12:49 p.m.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr called for lawmakers to ban assault weapons, tighten background checks and shrink magazine capacity.

“We are here to call out every single politician,” she said on stage at the “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington, D.C.

Other student speakers called out individual politicians, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Delaney Tarr at #MarchForOurLives rally: “We will continue to fight for our dead friends. There will be no faltering.” https://t.co/hMNqq2Dd5U pic.twitter.com/3aNWpGPnHn

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 24, 2018

Dem predicts march will be bigger than Trump’s inauguration

12:11 p.m.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) estimated attendance at the march in Washington, D.C., would be bigger than the crowds that came to President Trump’s inauguration. 

“I can tell you for sure, it’s larger than the Trump inauguration,” he told The Hill.

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer falsely claimed last year that Trump’s inauguration had “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe.” 

Check out how big #MarchForOurLives in DC is. Wow. America rules. pic.twitter.com/2EvlSk5Yis

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) March 24, 2018

-Mike Lillis

Warren joins protesters in Massachusetts

12:09 p.m.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) joined protesters in her home state, and posted several photos of herself surrounded by throngs of demonstrators in Worcester and other cities across her state.

“Surprise stop in Worcester to thank our student #MarchForOurLives organizers!” she tweeted.

Surprise stop in Worcester to thank our student #MarchForOurLives organizers! pic.twitter.com/NkD8kuCis0

— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) March 24, 2018

In a separate interview with CNN in Boston, Warren said that she was impressed by how “powerful” the anti-gun violence message of the student protesters had become.

“They have found their voices, they have figured out how to organize, and strengthen their voices. They are determined, and they are going to make change in this country,” she told the news network while surrounded by students.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who is joining #MarchForOurLives in Boston, says she is struck by “how powerful” the students are https://t.co/B70pxOHOIL https://t.co/amLlDaguJW

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 24, 2018

-John Bowden

Parkland student says ‘March for Our Lives’ is ‘just the beginning’

12 p.m. 

Marjory Student Douglas High School student David Hogg said on Saturday that the “March for Our Lives” rally for gun control is only the beginning of the movement and urged people to hold town halls while Congress is in recess over the next two weeks.

“I want people to understand, this is not the end, this is just the beginning,” Hogg told CNN at the “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington D.C. “We’re going to have town halls over the next two weeks when congressmen are in their local districts.”

“What people should do that are watching this right now is start organizing town halls over the next two weeks and invite their elected officials. And if they don’t come, invite their opponent,” Hogg said.

Hogg said he hopes the marches and the planned town halls result in politicians no longer taking money from the NRA.

“I want to see the NRA get out of funding so many corrupt politicians where they put their lobbyists and their special interests first, ahead of their constituents and the lives of children,” Hogg said.

-Luis Sanchez

Central Park goes silent

11:19 a.m.

In New York City’s Central Park, marchers held a moment of silence for the victims of the Parkland, Fla., shooting.

Moment of silence for the Parkland victims – a total hush over Central Park West. pic.twitter.com/xccOhrZRws

— Nidhi Prakash (@nidhiprakash) March 24, 2018

White House releases statement of support

11:17 a.m.

President Trump and most of Congress are not in the city for the march. Trump is in Florida for the weekend and Congress just started a two-week recess, meaning most members are already back in their home districts.

The White House released a statement on Saturday applauding “the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights” at the march.

White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters also pointed to Trump this week directing his Justice Department to outlaw bump stocks, a gun accessory that increases a gun’s possible rate of fire.

-Avery Anapol