There have been a heartbreaking 18 school shootings in the first 50 days of the new year, and students are protesting in order to prevent more.  

After the gruesome school shooting on February 13th in Parkland, Florida, students are taking the gun control matter into their own hands. On March 14th and 24th, as well as April 20th, students from all around America are planning to march on Washington D.C., and other places such as Denver, New York, Las Vegas, Columbus, and others.  

The significance of those dates is in memory of the first school shooting in the modern era; Columbine High School. The belief of these students is that after Columbine’s shooting, the gun laws should have been regulated more heavily and the government should have prevented and event like that from repeating itself. 

In order to show their frustration and to urge a change, students are promoting a march in Washington D.C. Students are naming this march the ‘March for our lives’, because they feel that nobody is strengthening the gun regulation laws, or lack thereof. 

Not only are many high school students holding protests, but they also have made other significant movements throughout the United States.  On Monday, February 19th, 17 students laid on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House for 3 seconds. This movement was meant to symbolize the 17 people who died in Parkland and the amount of time it takes for someone to purchase a gun. 

Also, on Tuesday the 20th and Wednesday the 21st, students from Douglas High School visited politicians in Tallahassee, Florida.  

But why are these students protesting in front of the White House and politicians? Because 60% of the U.S. blames Congress and President Trump for these repetitive tragedies. Many people are angry and starting to act because they believe that since the first school shootings, the President and Congress should have prevented another incident from occurring again.