More Than 800,000 Attend Student-Led March For Our Lives Protest In Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Fourteen-year-old Daniel Konis hid in a classroom in the freshman building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when Nikolas Cruz allegedly killed 17 people on Feb. 14.

“Maybe about an hour after they let the students out, Daniel sent me a text message saying he was okay but he did tell me that a few of his friends, he didn’t know about [their status],” said Daniel’s older brother and MSD alumni Matthew Konis, 24.

Daniel’s two friends, Gina Montalto and Alex Schachter, were among the lives lost that day.

Nearly a month later, Daniel and Matthew marched on March 24 in Washington, D.C. alongside more than 800,000 others during March for Our Lives, a student-led protest advocating for stricter gun control laws. The attendees included students, mass shooting survivors, celebrities, teachers and local representatives. There were more than 800 sister marches in cities like Miami, Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles.

“I just want guns to not be in classrooms,” said Daniel, who was wearing a garnet-colored  “MSD Strong” shirt.

Since the shooting, there have been various nationwide walkouts, including one on March 14, and there will be a nationwide protest on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting.

English teacher Dawn Garcia drove from Fairfax, Virginia to attend the march.

She held a poster listing what qualifications are required for her to be an English teacher. The list had checkmarks next to a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in English, loves working with students, passionate about literature and an excellent multi-tasker. The following two qualifications were listed in red capital letters alongside unchecked boxes: human shield, gunslinger. Garcia’s poster also said “#ITeachIMarch.”

“I’m here because I’m both a teacher and a parent and guns have no place near my students or my children,” said Garcia, who works at Fairfax High School. She was accompanied by her six-year-old daughter, Harper.

“I want to see sensible gun reform,” Garcia said. “I want to see an increase of the gun buying age to 21, bans on assault rifles and I definitely don’t want to arm teachers.”

The day was filled with chants echoing similar actions, such as “Vote Them Out,” which referred to congresspeople who cater to groups like the National Rifle Association, testimonies from Parkland survivors and a surprise speech from nine-year-old Yolanda King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s granddaughter.

“I have a dream that enough is enough,” said King, who echoed her grandfather’s famous line from his speech at the March On Washington in 1963.

Fifty students and four professors from Miami Dade College were also in attendance.   

“Ever since I started teaching, I’ve been wanting students to be activists and I always felt like I’ve been pulling them along and this time they’re pulling me along,” said professor Brooke Bovee, who teaches English at North Campus.

She was inspired by Parkland survivor Emma González and her own students to apply to chaperone the trip, organized by North Campus Student Life and college-wide iCED director Josh Young.

“Our own students are stepping up to the charge and when they told me, ‘Let’s do something about this,’ I wanted to be involved,” Bovee said. “I couldn’t say no.”