Gun control is not just about the 17 in Florida or the 20 at Sandy Hook. It is not just about the schools that no longer feel safe despite the padlocks and iron gates. However, it is also about the unarmed black lives lost from gun violence and the nearly six million children, primarily those of color, who have witnessed gunshots and bullet wounds, but whose stories continue to go untold, according to the Child Welfare League of America.
Consequently, it cannot be said that the Black Lives Matter and March For Our Lives movements exist in separate spheres. Sparked by recent events in Florida, students walked out to remember the 17 victims, fight for better gun restrictions, and obtain a better sense of security in both the classroom and in the country as a whole. The movement parallels the multitude of Black Lives Matter marches that have taken place over the last few years. The Black Lives Matter movement originated after the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. When the court failed to indict the officer in question, injustice in the justice system came under fire, according to The New York Times. Both the Black Lives Matter and the March For Our Lives movements spurred from a single act of gun violence that merely reflected decades worth of issues. Out of the violence, two movements have been born, both aiming to limit the presence of guns in America, whether they be in the hands of the police or in the hands of all citizens.
However, Black Lives Matter has met far more resistance than the March For Our Lives movement. Counter organizations such as the All Lives Matter movement were created, and Black Lives Matter took heated criticism from Fox News, who said the protesters had no basis for their anger, immediately following Brown’s death. According to political newspaper The Hill, only 43 percent of voters view Black Lives Matter positively, and that number dips to 35 percent among white voters, 21 percent among Republicans, and 18 percent of those who voted for President Trump.
While the NRA and Fox News have publicly denounced March for Our Lives, the majority of Americans view the movement favorably. According to a separate poll from The Hill, 56 percent of Americans have a positive opinion of the marches. Youth have taken the center stage in a new wave of activism which brought an estimated 800,000 people to D.C., according to USA Today, making it the biggest single day march in history.
Gun violence poses a threat to everyone, but it especially impacts minority groups. People of color and those who are disproportionately affected by gun violence should be uplifted by this movement, using intersectional activism to make a real change. As the obvious success of the gun reform movement plays out, other causes should build on this progressive wave. Teenagers who are now in the spotlight have the ability to empower others and amplify their voices. The time is now to raise your voice.
