Can Teens Change the World?

     Last March, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the streets of Washington, D.C. These people were there for a protest. They were loud—and very angry.

    Young children marched, holding hands with their parents. Grandmothers and grandfathers wept as they shouted “Enough is enough!” Students and teachers carried signs that read “Never Again.” 

    This event was one of the biggest protests ever held in the United States. And it was organized by teenagers.

    In March, hundreds of thousands of people went to Washington, D.C. They were there for a protest. They were loud and angry. 

    Children marched, holding hands with their parents. Grandmothers and grandfathers cried and shouted “Enough is enough!” Students and teachers held signs that said “Never Again.”

    The protest was one of the biggest ever held in the United States. And it was organized by teens.

    This past March, hundreds of thousands of people assembled in the streets of Washington, D.C. These people had gathered there for a protest, and they were loud—and extremely angry. 

    Young children marched, holding hands with their parents, while grandmothers and grandfathers wept and shouted “Enough is enough!” Students and teachers carried signs that read “Never Again.” 

    This event was one of the biggest protests ever held in the United States—and it was organized by teenagers.

    The protest came six weeks after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. On February 14, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School. In six minutes, he shot 34 people. Seventeen of them died.

    Several students from MSD met the night after the shooting. They decided to turn their grief into action. They researched the causes of gun violence. And they agreed to fight for stronger gun control. 

    The MSD students aren’t trying to get all guns banned. But they do want the type of gun that killed their friends to be banned. The gun was a semi-automatic weapon. That means it can shoot many bullets very quickly.

    The protest came six weeks after a school shooting in Florida. On February 14, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School. He shot 34 people. Seventeen of them died.

    Some students from MSD met the next night. They turned their grief into action. They studied the causes of gun violence. And they agreed to fight for stronger gun control.

    The MSD students don’t want all guns banned. They want the type that killed their friends to be banned. The gun was a semi-automatic weapon. That means it can shoot many bullets very quickly.

    The protest took place six weeks after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. On February 14, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School, and in six minutes, he shot 34 people. Seventeen of them died.

    Several students from MSD met the night after the shooting and decided to turn their grief into action. After researching the causes of gun violence, they agreed to fight for stronger gun control.

    The MSD students aren’t attempting to get all guns outlawed, but they do want the type that killed their friends to be banned. The gun was a semi-automatic weapon, which means it can shoot many bullets rapidly.

    The MSD activists spread the word about their mission on social media. Soon, reporters began to interview them. 

    Suddenly, people across the country were paying attention. Parents, celebrities, and other teens joined the fight. “People always say, ‘Get off your phones,’” says MSD student Jaclyn Corin. “But social media is our weapon.”

    The MSD students used social media to organize two events. Each one was a way to show support for gun control. On March 14, the students helped lead a nationwide school walkout. They also organized the Washington, D.C., protest, March for Our Lives.

    The shooting was a terrible tragedy. But this tragedy has inspired people across the country to join together. They want to end gun violence and make schools safer. 

    The MSD activists talked about their mission on social media. Reporters interviewed them. 

    People noticed. Parents, celebrities, and other teens joined the fight. “People always say, ‘Get off your phones,’” says MSD student Jaclyn Corin. “But social media is our weapon.”

    The MSD students used social media to organize two events. Both events showed support for gun control. The students helped lead a nationwide school walkout on March 14. They also organized the Washington, D.C., protest. It was called the March for Our Lives.

    The shooting was terrible. But it has inspired people to join together. They want to end gun violence. They want to make schools safer. 

    The MSD activists spread the word about their mission on social media, and soon reporters started interviewing them. 

    Suddenly, people across the country were paying attention. As a result, parents, celebrities, and other teens joined the fight. “People always say, ‘Get off your phones,’” says MSD student Jaclyn Corin. “But social media is our weapon.”

    The MSD students used social media to organize two events. Each event was a way to demonstrate support for gun control. On March 14, they helped lead a nationwide school walkout. The student activists also organized March for Our Lives, the Washington, D.C., protest.

    The shooting was a terrible tragedy, but this tragedy has inspired people across the country to join together. They want to end gun violence and make schools safer. 

    Will the MSD students achieve their goal? Some states have already passed stricter gun laws. But there is still a fight ahead. Many Americans oppose gun control. They think that stronger gun laws won’t end gun violence. They also believe guns are important for self-defense. 

    Student activists have a powerful way to fight for change. As soon as they turn 18, they can vote. In November, 470 people will be elected to Congress. Cameron Kasky, one of the MSD activists, thinks young people will show up to vote. He hopes they will vote for lawmakers who support gun control.

    Kasky was 17 when he spoke at the protest in Washington. He looked out at the crowd full of young people. “People have asked me, do you think any change is going to come from this?” he said. “Look around—we are the change!”

    Will the MSD students succeed? Some states have already passed stronger gun laws. But there is still a fight ahead. Many Americans oppose gun control. They say stronger laws won’t end gun violence. They also say guns are important for self-defense. 

    Students have a powerful way to fight for change. As soon as they turn 18, they can vote. In November, 470 people will be elected to Congress. Cameron Kasky is one of the MSD students. He thinks young people will vote. He hopes they will vote for people who support gun control. 

    Kasky spoke at the protest. He looked at the crowd of young people. “People have asked me, do you think any change is going to come from this?” he said. “Look around. We are the change!” 

    Will the MSD students achieve their goal? Some states have already passed stricter gun laws, but there is still a fight ahead. Many Americans oppose gun control. They believe that stronger gun laws won’t end gun violence and feel strongly that guns are important for self-defense. 

    Student activists have a powerful way to fight for change: As soon as they turn 18 years old, young people are eligible to vote. In November, 470 people will be elected to Congress. Cameron Kasky, one of the MSD activists, believes that young people will show up to vote. He hopes they will vote for lawmakers who support stricter gun control. 

    Kasky was when he spoke at the protest in Washington. “People have asked me, do you think any change is going to come from this?” he said. “Look around—we are the change!”