Students will participate in a gun advocacy protest taking place across the nation.
“March For Our Lives” is a public march planned for March 24 in various locations across the United States. The march was organized by Cameron Kasky, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student, who survived the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 dead and at least 14 injured. The march is to demonstrate advocacy for gun control.
Participants will gather at the Oklahoma County Election Board, 4201 N. Lincoln Blvd. at 11 a.m., where there will be voter registration forms and absentee ballots. The march begins at noon, down Lincoln Avenue to the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Dr. Mark Davies, professor of social and ecological ethics, said the effect of the Parkland shooting is unique from other mass shootings in recent history.
“It’s related to the fact that the students have decided that they’re not going to mourn in silence, that they’re going to do something to try to change the culture around this. That takes a lot of courage,” he said.
Vance Klassen, music theater freshman, and Madeline Powell, music theater/vocal performance freshman, coordinated with the Facebook group for the Oklahoma City march to spread word of the march to OCU students and faculty.
Klassen said this particular shooting has finally summoned action from society.
“There’s always been the desire to do something, but I feel like it took this one for somebody to actually stand up and do it,” he said. “The intentions have always been there, but the fact that it took teenagers to finally say, ‘enough is enough’ and to go ahead and commit to what is actually necessary and essential to our country has taken quite some time, but I’m glad it’s finally arrived.”
Davies will be out of state at the time of the march but said he supports the cause.
“I think we have to take measures that are going to take those kinds of weapons away from citizens who are not either in the military or in law enforcement,” Davies said. “We just don’t need those guns. I’m not one to say that all guns should be taken away from people, but these kinds of guns are not for shooting deer or rabbits or quail.”
Powell said the death of Nicholas Dworet, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas senior with a swimming scholarship, is what made her want to participate.
“That, for me, just really hit home because we’re freshman, and, a year ago, that could have been us,” Powell said. “To think that something that you’re that passionate about could be taken away from you by someone who was reckless just really got to me.”
Aaron Bates, acting freshman, said seeing people younger than him taking a stand inspired him to participate in the march.
“Whenever stuff like this happens, I always feel like I should be doing something, but I’ve always kind of sat on the sidelines,” Bates said. “When I saw people my age and people younger than me that are being so loud and so proud and going up there and doing that, I felt like I needed to do something.”
More information about the march is available on the “March For Our Lives OKC” Facebook page.
See Page 4 for photos of the “Art Against Gun Violence” performance on Friday.
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