Students Demand Action, a new organization dedicated to preventing gun violence and starting gun reform, is holding a march and rally tomorrow in Union Square.
Friday was the chosen day because it is the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton, Colorado, where 12 students and a teacher were shot and killed.
The event is being planned by Samantha Inscore, junior elementary education major, who organized a “March for Our Lives” rally last month at the Topeka Capitol building that drew hundreds.
Students Demand Action intend to start a conversation on campus about gun violence through the rally and march.
“No longer can we turn blind to an issue that is killing an average of 96 Americans a day, (according to Everytown for gun safety),” Inscore said.
Their goal is to promote that classrooms and college campuses are places for learning and not places to worry about gunfire, according to their Facebook page.
“We will not stop until all American Students are allowed to feel safe in their classrooms, campuses and communities,” the Facebook page said.
The students have the power to make change and they have a large enough voice to make a difference, according to Inscore.
“By the year 2020 the millennial generation will be the largest voting block since the baby boomers,” Inscore said. “It is important for the new generation of voters to research the issues so that they can make an educated and responsible decision when voting.”
This event is part of many across the country, including student walkouts at high schools, that mark the anniversary of the Columbine shooting. There are over 2,100 walkouts planned to talk about the problems the country is face and to find solutions to problems that leaders have failed to address, according to nationalschoolwalkout.com.
During the march at ESU, there will be guest speakers, sign-making, voter registrations, a chance to buy t-shirts and a march to the Memorial for Fallen Educators.
“We would like to close loopholes that allow criminals and other dangerous people to buy guns without without a proper background check,” Inscore said. ‘We support laws that save lives by keeping guns away from domestic abusers. We also want to educate about safe storage and responsible gun ownership.”
The Emporia community, students and those who live in surrounding areas are invited to attend the event.
“If your high school or middle school doesn’t have a chapter of SDA (Students Demand Action), get some friends and make one,” Inscore said. “Organize, register to vote, and raise your voice.”
Corrected: A previous version of this article said that 96 people are killed every year by guns. It is actually 96 people every day, according to Everytown for gun safety.
