Grand Rapids students plan local version of nationwide protest

Following the school shooting in Parkland, Florida last month, students across the nation are planning marches to protest gun violence in schools. The March for Our Lives Grand Rapids event is being organized and led by a group of six local high school students from Forest Hills Northern High School and City High Middle School. The students acquired the special events permit shortly after the shooting and then began organizing all of the details and logistics of the march. They have been working alongside student leaders from schools across West Michigan. They also procured a grant from Everytown for Gun Safety to fund the event.

The March takes place on Saturday, March 24. Beginning with a rally at Rosa Parks Circle at noon, the event will consist of speeches from students, community leaders, and those touched personally by gun violence, as well as performances by the Grand Rapids Social Justice Choir and an art piece by a local artist. Following the rally, marchers will follow a 30-minute route through downtown Grand Rapids, returning to Rosa Parks Circle for a closing rally. The public is welcome to participate.

The League of Women Voters will be available to register voters who will turn age 18 by Nov. 6.

“This is a great opportunity for our generation to show our representatives and lawmakers that enough is enough and we are fed up with all the school shootings around the country,” says Evan Calderon, one of the Student leaders. “Now is the time to act and we cannot let this moment pass like it has in the past.”

For more, see www.facebook.com/marchforourlivesgr/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.