 |
|
John — With the midterm elections only ONE week away, we are fired up and ready to make our voices heard at the ballot. Across the country, we’ve heard from students, activists, survivors, and other young voters who are directly involved in the gun violence prevention movement and fighting for a safe future. We want to share their voices with you. Take a look at what our youth members are saying about this election and remember their stories when you head to the polls on November 8.
“I joined teens and young people in South Florida in 2018 as we created March For Our Lives days after losing friends and peers to a gunman. I was freshly sixteen and sick of watching as people my age died for going to school, a concert, a movie, and simply existing. As young people, we bear the brunt of gun violence. We learned to identify safe corners and build barricades of desks and furniture at a moment’s notice, to defend ourselves from a shower of bullets. We are being murdered in our homes and parks, yet many of us are too young to vote and have a say in who our elected officials are. Politicians hold the most power to create actual change through policy, but when pro-gun candidates are elected, we suffer the consequences. It is our blood on their hands. But we have the power to change it.” - Olivia Solomon, 20, is a senior at the University of Central Florida and President at March For Our Lives UCF “From Santa Fe to Marjory Stoneman Douglas to Robb Elementary, enough is enough. Why should we, three high school students, be concerned about whether we’ll live long enough to realize our American Dream? What about the American Dream of those whose lives were stolen by a round of bullets due to the inaction and incompetence of our elected officials? We deserve to go to school, the grocery store, and movie theaters without the fear of being shot. By voting for gun violence prevention candidates on November 8th, you can help make this our reality.” - Mujeebat Gbolahan, 17, is a senior at Alief Early College High School and Co-Executive Secretary of March of Our Lives Houston. “We demand a future free of gun violence and an end to this epidemic that is killing our loved ones. We, the young people, are tired of seeing gun violence everywhere, from our schools to communities to our own homes. We demand a reality where lockdown drills are a relic of the past meant only for history lessons, where families are not torn apart by bullets, and where communities can thrive and grow without the burden of this cyclical horror. We dream of a future filled with joy and peace, which is possible only when gun violence is not an everyday reality in our communities. We know that this dream is possible, but it’s going to take us rising up to get there. Many kids and teens, like ourselves, are too young to vote, which is why it’s time for all those who can vote to be our voice in the midterm elections and elect gun violence prevention candidates. It's your time to show up and do the work just as we have done. On Tuesday, November 8th, 2022, it’s time to vote to end gun violence, to vote for our lives.” - Aileen Kearney, 17, is a senior at East High School and founder of March For Our Lives East. Adeline Gent, 17, is a senior at Cambridge High School and founder of March For Our Lives Cambridge. Thank you for taking the time to read our members’ stories and experiences. In solidarity, March For Our Lives (P.S. We’re still running our $100,000 donation match challenge until election day. Donate today and your donation will be doubled!)
|
