The DC march on Saturday afternoon at the Washington Monument will feature a list of speakers pushing for action against armed violence. Concentrations have also been scheduled in more than 400 U.S. cities in nearly every 50 U.S. states on Saturday.
“After countless mass shootings and cases of armed violence in our communities, it’s time to take to the streets and walk away from our lives,” the organization’s website states. “We left in 2018 after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting in Parkland, Florida, and now we’re back in DC.”
The marches are accompanied by a renewed push in Congress for arms control. Lawmakers have come under intense pressure to act in the wake of the recent mass shootings, and at least 10 Republicans must vote with Democrats in order to clear the 60-vote threshold to break a deadlock and pass legislation.
Despite widespread opposition from the GOP, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, a Democratic leader in bipartisan negotiations, told CNN he believes there will be more than 10 Republicans who will support gun security measures in the Senate.
“I think we’re going to put together a package that will get more than 10 Republican votes,” he told CNN’s John Berman on Thursday on “New Day.”
March for Our Lives last held a rally in DC in 2018 after the deadly shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. Survivors of the shooting sent a resounding message that Washington’s inaction in the face of the scourge of armed violence is no longer acceptable.
“To the leaders, skeptics and cynics who told us to sit down, shut up and wait your turn, welcome to the revolution,” Cameron Kasky, a student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, told the crowd at the time.
“Either represent the people or go out. Defend us or be careful.”