The tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, which took the lives of 17 students at the hands of a former student has prompted the survivors to take a stand – in the form of advocating for stricter gun laws and school safety. They’ve started the initiative in the form of a protest called “March For Our Lives.” What’s even more interesting is the star power gathering behind the new initiative – Oprah Winfrey.
The march will be held on March 24, 2018, in central Washington D.C. The organizers are also encouraging satellite marches – marches in other states and around the world in solidarity with their cause.
Oprah Winfrey recently joined the growing list of celebrities donating to the worthwhile cause. She was prompted to do so after the publicizing of George and Amal Clooney’s $5000,000 donation. Winfrey remarked: “George and Amal, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to ‘March For Our Lives,’” “These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we’ve had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard.”
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George and Amal, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to ‘March For Our Lives.’ These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we’ve had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard.
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 20, 2018
This isn’t the first time Winfrey has spoken out in the name of a cause. She’s also rallied behind the #MeToo and #Timesup movements which were formulated to combat sexual harassment and sexual violence against women in the workplace and beyond. Her rousing acceptance speech at the 2018 Golden Globes for her acceptance of the Cecil B. DeMille Award brought to the forefront several injustices that have occurred and are prevalent in society.
The organizers of March For Our Lives are aiming for the stop of mass shootings in schools and for stricter gun laws that protect all citizens. They state: “March For Our Lives is created by, inspired by, and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar. In the tragic wake of the seventeen lives brutally cut short in Florida, politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now.”
“School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying when they should be learning, playing, and growing. The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues. No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in our country.”
