Transcripts For CNNW CNN Newsroom With Fredricka Whitfield 20180324

To honor the 17 classmates and faculty members killed by an armed former student just last month. The survivors have one very loud, very clear message on gun violence. Never again. Their frustrations gaining National Momentum and driving the conversation on the polarizing gun control debate. Those students are leading the march on washington right now but they dont stand alone. Star power is backing them up here in the nations capital. Ariana grande, miley cyrus, Linmanuel Miranda are a few of the names taking part today. Youre looking at the main stage right there on pennsylvania avenue, hundreds of marches in fact scheduled across the country today. Cnn has Team Coverage with reporters spread out across the country. Cnns Diane Gallagher is with a group of students from parkland, florida right here in the nations capital. Diane. Reporter were not too far from where you are, about a mile, and thats because this group of Marjory Stoneman douglas alumni, teachers, students, parents, theyre about to be leaving this breakfast they had this morning. I want to see if i can pan the room. Theyre waiting. Theyre going to be marching roughly that mile to the area together as a show of force and solidarity. They want people to know that msd showed up, they came, they as a family are here supporting what these students are doing, supporting the idea of safer schools. Some of them are proponents of gun control. Others are focused on mental health. Were seeing a bit of diversity of ideas in this many review. Again, this is msd people here. There should be any time coming up these escalators we can see they are starting to come at this point. Theyre passing out buttons and pens. There are plenty of signs. Again, this is something this entire community kind of got involved in. When this happened at the school, its a close knit area in parkland, florida. They banded together. We have alumni from the 90s, the 2000s. I talked to one alumni who went to ucf and she said that she rode a bus all night, got to washington d. C. At 6 00 a. M. So she could be here and march with those students. Were going to start going with them, walking down to where you are, so we can be there as they support their fellow students on stage. Were about to leave now and im going to send it back to you so we can get out the door. Diane gallagher, thank you so much. As so many kids from parkland, florida assemble there before they make their way to pennsylvania avenue, just in the shadow of the capitol. Kaylee hartung is in parkland, florida where it all began, where the mourning continues for the 17 killed and the focus is sharpening there. Kaylee. Reporter fred, the program here just beginning in enthusiastic fashion. You can hear the chants behind me. As one parent just reminded me, this community is still clooe grieving. That parent told me shes filled with pride to see her daughter turn that grief into passion. This crowd gathering behind me, evidence of the impact that the passion that the Stoneman Douglas students have had on so many. Weve seen these pictures of hundreds of Stoneman Douglas students making the trip to d. C. To make their voices heard. Remember, theyre a high school of about 3300 kids, so many of them wanted to be here. As one student organizer told me, this is where she felt she needed to be today, not in d. C. But here in other Home Community to make their voice heard. She also said its absolutely incredible for them to see the support that they have generaj d generated, as you see behind me here but also across the country. Here where we are in pine trails park, this park where these kids grew up playing soccer, having sports banquets and award ceremonies. This park became a memorial where people came to pay their respects to the 17 victims and shed tears for that loss of life. Today this park takes on a new meaning for the change that they hope to see. This march will leave pine trails park in about two hours. They will march towards the high school. Theyre then told to march in silence past the high school and to keep marching as this signal is a sign of the determination that they want to keep this conversation moving forward. Fred, this program just about to get under way with a host of speakers. We anticipate it to be a very powerful and moving morning here in the parkland area. Kaylee hartung, thank you so much, out of parkland, florida. You see the crowds there. There are crowds developing in new york city as well and thats where we find our Jason Carroll in the thick of it. Jason. Reporter let me tell you, there are so many people who are already here and the event hasnt even officially started yet. Were here at 61st street. Let me show you whats happening up here. People are Standing Shoulder to shoulder, going up Central Park West all the way up to 72nd street, keeping them in pens along the way. Already spoken to a number of survivors here, people from sandy hook, a librarian who sheltered 19 fourth graders in place in the library. I also spoke to a survivor from las vegas who was here as well. In talking to a number of the people here who are about to take the stage very soon, fredrica, theyve been talking about what they want to see going forward. As you know, the state of new york has some of the toughest Gun Legislation in the country. That was passed after sandy hook. When i spoke to one of the survivors here today, i asked her what is it specifically that youre going to be looking for like so many people here who are coming out to protest, to stand their ground. She said were looking for politicians to listen to the people and the people will be speaking today. Back to you. All right, Jason Carroll, thank you so much. Lets talk more about the scope of this march and the mission and what might be accomplished. David swerdlick is a cnn political commentator and special editor for the washington post. David, good to see you. Thank you. Its an extraordinary sight. Youve got a lot of young people here from all over the country and you have them with their parents. This is a family event. Their objective is to get the attention of lawmakers here in the shadow of the u. S. Capitol. Is this likely to be effective . I think its the start of something at least. You know, in the wake of the parkland shooting, youve seen a march here today thats led yes, many adults are here but its led and inspired by students in part because i think a lot of students saw with their own eyes for the first time just how slowly the wheels of government turn when they want a problem addressed and this is their response to it, fred. Were getting to that point in the year where congress is about done doing things and they start turning toward campaigning for reelection in the fall. Will this spur them to kind of come back here, act, take action on some of the things the students are demanding like maybe reinstating the assault weapons ban, like perhaps raising the federal age limit to 21 for purchasing all firearms. Its unclear, but i think this is how theyre going to try and get the attention of their representatives. Theyre looking at this and saying, hey, were kids, we think something should be done, why arent adults getting things done. I talked to a lot of kids and their families who have descended here on washington d. C. And so many of them have expressed they are so disappointed that there hasnt been great change on a national front. Then on the eve of this march, the white house makes an announcement that the Trump Administration will have a new rule or at least taking a step toward banning bump stocks. That was a plea being made after the vegas shooting. On the eve of this martha the white hou white house would say it is making a step toward that, is that strictly to appease this audience . President trump is feeling his way, trying to figure out how he can look like hes on the right side of this issue without abandoning or getting crossways with one of his core constituencies, the nra. He enthusiastically accepted their endorsement when he ran for president. In recent weeks hes had more than one closeddoor meeting with leaders of the nra, and he cant afford to lose that core constituency. At the same time, President Trump realizes that theres a lot of agitation, a lot of concern in the country for doing something about gun violence in the country, and people are looking at this and saying after sandy hook, after parkland, after las vegas, why wont government act. President trumps not a traditional conservative, so i dont think hes driven by an idealogical core on this issue as much as he wants to try and keep his base with him, at the same time appeal to a broader audience. There are oneissue voters out there and many of them here whom ive spoken with say this gun control, stricter gun laws issue is the one issue for them. How might it impact midterm elections . Are democrats and republicans particularly conscientious that the oneissue voter could make a difference in midterm . Youre going to have oneissue voters on both sides, fred. Youre going to have folks who have traditionally supported strong gun rights and say im going to go out there and vote as ive done in the past to try and elect people who dont want to change existing gun laws. On the other hand, youve got a lot of teenagers out here today who might be voting for the first time in their lives this november, turning 18 this year, and saying, that look, if legislators arent going to do something, im going to vote for different legislators who might take action on this. Again, if you go back to what the president s doing, he said yesterday as you said that he wants to ban bump stocks, but folks out here today are saying we want you to do more. The florida the parkland kids were able to get their legislature in florida to pass a law that banned bump stocks. It didnt go that much further to do some of the other things they wanted, so i think theyre going to continue to pressure legislators to do more over the course of this year in advance of this election. Quickly, your impressions as you look around, as people are gathering, the official march begins or the rally begins at noon, but already hundreds of thousands appear to be here. Yeah, a Critical Mass is gathering. The fact that its so chilly out here and people are still out here sort of excited and ready to form up here and show their support for this issue signals that this is a movement thats probably not going anywhere any time soon. Maybe not hundreds of thousands. Maybe tens of thousands. Yeah. Its hard for me to see out here and it is early. Its cold but its a nice day. I think youre going to see a lot of people out here. Theyll leave here and march towards the white house later on. David swerdlick, thank you very much. Some of the music now beginning here. Weve met so many families who have made the trip here by plane, train, car. The Bishop Family from parkland, florida says its their mission to advocate legislation in florida and across the country to ensure both the right to bear arms and the right to feel safe. Daniel and julia, you were both at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School at the time of the shooting but you were in separate buildings. And mom susan, you were at a nearby walmart shopping for lastminute valentines gifts for the entire family. Now more than 30 days later youre here in d. C. For this march for life. So how has all of this changed, impacted the family . This incident has blown a grenade size hole inside of our town, and were all coping with it and trying to come together and use this to tomorrcome togeo make change and to make sure that no community ever has to go through what weve had to go through. Your mom said Something Really powerful there which is coping and changing. How do you prioritize those things for you . I mean, you were in your school. Youve lost your classmates. You have to both cope and now youre on a mission to change. How are you doing that . Well, i think that we know that our classmates that did lose their lives, they would want us to be activists. We did have the time shortly after to grieve and to be upset and we still carry that with us every day. I always think about my classmate, carmen, every single day, but i know that when im fighting for her im making a difference. Its stressful. Im not going to lie. Its been a lot to handle as a student, as a teenager, but i think that coping and change come together, that theyre hand in hand. A week after that shooting and julia, you were on a bus to tallahassee and you had a message for lawmakers. Im going to be speaking to these legislators. I dont care what Political Party they come from. There was legislation passed in the state of florida. We did end up having the age limit raised to 21 and also theres going to be a threeday waiting period. Even though i went to tallahassee and talked to legislators and tried to get my points across, i dont have a vote. I think that its really important for everyone who can vote, 18, 19, 20, 21yearolds, everyone to go out and try to influence the people around them. The u. S. Capitol building, this is the seat of power. Mom susan, when you look at this building knowing what it represents, do you see it differently after the shooting claiming 17 lives . I want these lawmakers who are representing us to understand that we have to make the changes that need to be made to keep the people in this country safe. Im honestly worried that this will just blow over as every other mass shooting has. In vegas, there were almost 60 People Killed and we were sad for a week and we sent our thoughts and prayers and no one did anything about it. Daniel, whats the goal for this march . I think that we have Something Real here. This is real. You know, when we were just another high school, we barely even noticed when the Senate Rejects gun control. We barely even noticed. I mean, now when things get passed, when things dont get passed, the whole community knows. The Bishop Family in huge company here in the nations capitol and across the country because nationwide gun control rallies and protests are growing by the second. Take a look at live pictures right now in miami, florida where crowds are taking over the streets there. A similar scene unfolding in philadelphia. We have reporters fanned out across the country as well. Stay with us. Well take you across the country. Hes a nascar champion whos shes a worldclass swimmer whos stared down the best in her sport. But for both of them, the most challenging opponent was. Pe blood clots in my lung. It was really scary. A dvt in my leg. I had to learn all i could to help protect myself. My doctor and i choose xarelto® xarelto®. To help keep me protected. Xarelto® is a latestgeneration blood thinner. Thats proven to treat and reduce the risk of dvt and pe blood clots from happening again. In clinical studies, almost 98 of patients on xarelto® did not experience another dvt or pe. 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Youve got to learn all you can. To help protect yourself from dvt and pe blood clots. Talk to your doctor about xarelto®. Theres more to know. Heyim craving somethingkin were missing. The ceramides in cerave. They help restore my natural barrier, so i can lock in moisture. And keep us protected. Weve got to have each others backs. And fronts. Cerave. What your skin craves. It wi called usaarst and the first thing they asked was are you ok . they always thank you for your service, which is nice because as a spouse you serve too. Were the hayles and were usaa members for life. Welcome back to the nations capitol where gatherings are under way for the socalled march for our lives. Thousands of people have descended. People are coming from all over the country here to washington d. C. And theyre also dotting the map to new york city, chicago, and los angeles. I want to go to cnns Diane Gallagher who has been with students who have been assembling out of parkland, florida but theyre here in the nations capitol about to make their way. The folks will gather and eventually span a nineblock area from the u. S. Capitol all the way to the white house. Whats the message, what are you finding from kids there and their families . Reporter as predicted, we actually had to stop because the rest of the group had to catch up. Were talking 1300, 1400 people with this group alone. Msd students and teachers and parents and alumni. I have a student with me, a sophomore. What do you guys expect out of today . Do you feel like youre going to gain progress . [inaudible] you guys have been planning this. You guys did make change in florida. Its going to be tougher though nationally. How do you guys plan to go about that beyond this march . Were just going to keep going. We have tons of support here, about 500,000 people showed up this is something right now and i want to apologize because my photographer is walking backwards in a large sea of people right now but this is something that you guys are still experiencing this change. Everybody sees your activism but things have changed at your school since the shooting, not just emotionally but physically. Can you ask the question again. No worries, its so loud out here. Whats it like attending stoneman lodouglas . The vibe is positive because were making change. A lot of things have happened this week alone. This is what we have to do. How do you feel being here with all of these people in the capitol . It feels empowering. Martin luther king walked down these same streets as we are right now. Its crazy that were doing the same thing that they did. We saw how that turned out. Were hoping we get the same result. Do you feel like this is similar to the Civil Rights Movement . Yeah. Civil rights was started by teenagers and here we are. I so appreciate you walking and doing this with us but talk to me a little bit about what you guys want to see change. Change is very broad. What do you actually want to see change . In the simplest terms, gun control. We want bans on assault rifles. No civilian should have them. Mental illness is not big topic. We need universal become checks. We dont want guns in our school or around us. Thank you so much. Youve been active in this movement the whole time. We want to tallahassee together on a bus. You can hear the chants theyre doing, who are we, msd. Msd strong. Im trying to maneuver here. I do apologize right now. This is something that they put together in just six weeks, less than six weeks, five and a half weeks since that shooting on valentines day. Theyve gotten support from nearly 80 om0 marches from arou the country. Students were telling me they did not expect it to blow up like this. I want don to pan and see this crowd. These are the students, the alumni, the teachers, the parents from parkland, florida. Theyre here. They came strong. They came on planes, buses. Some of them drove up themselves. There were teachers who basically brought up the students that they couldnt get on the plane. Some of them came wednesday, thursday. I talked to a student who came overnight on a bus. The school paid for them to come up here, the university of central florida. She was an alumni, felt like she needed to be here. Theyre a close knit alumni. They understand that because theyre a privileged school, they say, we come from an affluent area, we have a good education, they were able to harness that education and capture the attention of the planet when it comes to gun control, mental health, safety. We should see that reflected in the program today. Theyve taken other students, other young people from different communities and theyre going to have them speak as well, fredricka, because they want to make sure that this is a countrywide event, not just a parkland, florida event. Thats where it started but they do say they want to see this go further and they want this to be countrywide. The diversity of faces that are expected in the crowd is stealth. May not reflect what Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School looks looks and they say they want to make this something that everybody in the country is a part of. Were trying to make our way to the stage where all this is going to happen. So far the crowd as large as it is has opened up and allowed msd alumni and students to get through so they can cheer on their classmates. Diane gallagher with the students hoping they are power in numbers making their way to the main stage which is just behind me which is where youre hearing all of that music and theyre holding signs, books, not bullets, not one more. Were seeing similar images in boston, and thats where our Senior National correspondent, Alex Marquardt is, where people are beginning to assemble there to join in this movement. Alex. Reporter yaereah, big crowd growing as we get closer to this march. Its supposed to kick off in 20 minutes time. Were at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and its really no mistake that we are starting at a high school today. The symbolism is something that everyone here wants people to understand, that it is about the students, it is about the young people here. You can see this sea of young people. The crowd really dominated by them and not by adults, all holding up all sorts of signs. The focus today is these students. It is not the elected politicians. It is not the older members of society. In fact, senator Elizabeth Warren of massachusetts was just here. She met privately with a number of students from boston. We should note that during the rally that is going to follow this march, there are no older there are no adults speaking except for some of the teachers. Most of the speakers will be students. There will be some teachers. Senator warren met privately with some students in a nearby cafe. I actually spoke with her and asked her whether she thought that this was a moment, whether something will come out of this. She said she was inspired by these Young Students and that some of her republican colleagues in the senate will not be able to turn away from these images and turn away from these voices. Now, in terms of what do we expect to happen over the course the day, in about 20 minutes this march is going to start going from this high school. Theyll walk around two miles to Boston Common and then once they arrive at Boston Common we expect the rally and the speeches to get under way. Alex, you spoke with senator Elizabeth Warren. Whats her message . Reporter her message today is that you cant ignore these young people. She wanted to not just be she did not want to be a part of this march. We will not in fact see her marching today. Shes headed to springfield, massachusetts to join the march out there, but she wanted to come here and give them encouragement to show that they are not alone, to show that their voices matter and she will carry their message back to capitol hill to try to transform that into some sort of Gun Legislation. As you know, senator warren has been very vocal in terms of trying to get gun control legislation pushed forward and she says she believes that these student voices will make a difference. At this point moment after the Parkland School shooting is different than past shootings. What has struck you most about these students and what theyve organized today not just here in boston but across the country . Its powerful they are. That they have found their voices. They have figured out how to organize and strengthen their voices. They are determined and they are going to make change in this country. Can you imagine being 16 years old today and youre the shooting generation, right . The generation that has grown up with one School Shooting after another, that has grown up with losing someone in your high school, someone in your neighborhood, one here, one there. We cant do that to our young people. Thats not the job of government. The job of government is to protect our people. Sgl. Reporter we should note that among those students just a dozen of them were speaking with senator warren. One of those students is a senior there, graduating later this year. They told us that they are not just angry about what has happened but theyre inspired about what can happen. Alex marquardt, thank you so much from boston. Much more on our breaking news ahead. Protests, rallies growing dramatically across the country starting with from here in the nations capitol. You see the map across the globe here, parkland, florida, new york, washington, minneapolis among the more than 800 rallies taking place globally. Well be right back. Alright, i brought in high protein to help get us moving. And help you feel more strength and energy in just two weeks ill take that. Yeeeeeah ensure high protein. With 16 grams of protein and 4 grams of sugar. Ensure. Always be you. And taking cared abof the boys. E zach talk to me. Its for the house. I got a job. Its okay. Dad took care of us. The fastest samsung ever demands tmobile, the Fastest Network ever. Because fast should be fast. Right now get the new Samsung Galaxy s9 for half off. Thisreally passionate about i really want to help. I was on my way out of this life. 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It has the fiber found in many fruits and vegetables, all in a tasty chewable tablet. Fiber choice the smart choice. Were back at the nations capitol and were just a few feet away from the main stage of this march today. As we watch the gatherings taking place from coast to coast to rally against gun violence and demand stricter gun laws, im here in the nations capitol where the socalled march for our lives will officially start in just a little bit. Occasionally you will hear the loud speakers, you will hear the music. It is energetic. It really is parallel to the spirit of these young people who have come out in very big numbers. This march will span at least nine blocks along pennsylvania avenue from the u. S. Capitol to the white house. The survivors of the Stoneman Douglas School Shooting are leading the march in honor of the 17 victims killed during a mass shooting in their school last month. The white house just releasing a statement on these demonstrations saying, quote, we applaud the many courageous Young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today. Additionally, on friday the department of justice issued the rule to ban bump stocks, following through on the president s commitment to ban devices that turn legal weapons into illegal machine guns. That statement coming from the white house at this hour. Joining me right now, taking an incredible view of everything here, someone who was very close to the former president , former president obama, former Senior Adviser to the president , Valerie Jarrett with me now. You took notice of a number of the signs that caught your eye from these kids. Books, not bullets. Not one more. The one that really caught your eye was, arms are for hugs. Arms are for hugging. They are indeed. What is it like to be here to see all of these young people who are galvanized, energized and feeling very empowered. Its extraordinary. This is how change has always happened in our country where a few people excite the many, where people feel that its in their vested interest to get involved and to End Gun Violence now. Were the only developed country in the world that has this kind of violence. There are steps that we can take to end it and i think their frustration and the frustration of so many people who i met over the course of the 8 years at Memorial Service after Memorial Service, from sandy hook to my own back yard in chicago, needless deaths that could be avoided. If we can just save one child, isnt that worth it . I think what we see here is young people saying, were not asking for permission. Were not intimidated by the nra. We are empowered to ensure that we change our country. And theyre doing it. I saw one sign from a young kid who said were not afraid of the nra, why is congress. Why is congress . Its a very good question. I think our government is only as good as we, the people, insist that it be. We, the people, are speaking today not just in d. C. But as you said all around our country. I think our elected officials are going to have to wake up and take action in congress and in state houses all across the country. You were in the white house with president obama when sandy hook happened. I sure was. Worst day in 8 years. The president and everyone thought that after a tragedy like sandy hook something would happen. I know, i know. And there wasnt enough on a national scale, and now youve got young people here who are saying they are of the mass shooting generation. Can you imagine going to school and having to have drills for, you know, being aware when theres an active shooter . Thats what we want our children to grow up experience . Why . So people could have weapons and not go through background checks, so that we have assault weapons with these huge magazines that can shoot so many people at one time . Is that really worth it . Is this the moment, the turning point . Its a moment turning into a movement. One of them said yesterday, this is the beginning of a marathon. They recognize this isnt going to be easy, its going to take some time, but they have the power to press. I think social media adds a whole new dimension to movements today. Theyre not dependent on the press to cover them. They are making the press themselves and theyre driving the attention. Thats why youre seeing all across our country and all across the world people are listening to these young people. It also shows you thats what theyre hoping. And theyre smart. Theyre fearless. They are articulate. They understand that this isnt just about whats happening in their school, in their affluent community. They went to chicago and they met with people there who experience gun violence every single day. It may not be a mass shooting. We have unified and built a big tent. What is your point of view on the Trump Administration on the eve of this march and rally, a decision was announced by the Trump Administration on steps toward ending bump stocks and then the president would tweet yesterday that his administration will ban bump stock devices that turn legal weapons into illegal machines and then blaming former president barack obama for allowing them in the first place, what is your response to that as a Senior Adviser working in the Obama Administration white house for 8 years . Look, we tried mightily to get congress to pass sensible background checks. We tried mightily and to get congress to recognize their responsibility to close the loopholes. No one should be able to buy a weapon of mass destruction the way you can now on the internet without going through a background check. We tried to get congress to change the law that says that the cdc cant even do research to figure out what causes gun violence and what are the appropriate steps we should take. We did what we could and the president signed multiple executive orders trying to tighten up what we could do within the administration. But, this piece that they did on the bump stocks is one step of many that needs to be taken. I think until the nra stops controlling the purse strings, until people in congress recognize that they are not beholden to special interests, theyre beholding to the people, thats when were going to see real change happen. So we did what we could do by executive action. We challenged congress to do more, and now theyre going to be forced to act, i believe. Former sr. Advienior adviser Obama Administration, Valerie Jarrett, thanks for stopping here. Thank you. Lets go to parkland, florida where all of this tragically began, 17 killed at marjorie Stoneman Douglas high school. And now at parkland today students have galvanized there. They have a message. Lets listen in to what they have to say. Sadly, we will be repeating this and it could be easily be in your city or your town. This stops now [ cheers ] secondly, the finish line at the end of the march here today in parkland and all the marches around the country is our beginning line. We are just Getting Started [ cheers ] i promise many of my classmates who are in washington d. C. Right now and i are not going away or giving up. We are determined, we are committed to force change. [ cheers ] we are starting to see momentum but we know we have a long way to go. It is now our mission in life, not just a quick media show that will fizzle out with time. And most importantly, i promise all the victims families that we will never ever forget their loved ones and we will continually continue to relentlessly work for all childrens safety in their honor and loving memory. [ cheers ] we cannot and will not be influenced by money and demand the same from our elected officials [ cheers ] we are watching you closely now, and we now have a voice, and influence in elections. Hopefully youve noticed this theme around promises. After the tragedy in parkland, my best friend, zach, and i wanted to make a difference and get involved. We were angry and could not believe there was another tragedy. It was incomprehensible to us that after all these previous shootings and senseless deaths at columbine, sandy hook, pulse nightclub, las vegas and so many others that it happened again, let alone that it happened in our high school. How is it possible that so many innocent lives live pictures out of parkland, florida and now minneapolis as well. And you hear the sounds behind me here in the nations capitol where gatherings are taking place across the country. Well have much more after this. We the people. Defined by the things we share. And the ones we love. 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This is an incredible affair for so many who do indeed feel empowered. Ed. Reporter hello, fredricka. Here in the crowd were with a unique group of people. Its a Fascinating Group of survivors and relatives of people who have died in some of the most high profile Mass Shootings across the country, aurora theatre shooting, the gaby gifford shooting in tucson, the Town Center Mall shooting in oregon, las vegas, pulse. This is a group of them. Theyve come here to be together on this day. They share this horrific experience. This is tom and karen. Tom, why did you need to be here today . Because its got to stop. When do we stop killing our kids . I mean, my son gave his life so that another person could live. Cant we just its got to become rational. Your son died he died at the aurora theatre shooting. The common theme you guys share is horrific we all lost this young lady here had to take a gun away from the person shooting gaby gifford. Why does she have to do that . It doesnt make sense, not in this country. I have to get a license to drive a car but i can be 16 and buy an automatic weapon. It doesnt make any sense. After the ordeal that your family has gone through, if you decided to just kind of shelter in your house and just be quiet and reflect but youve chosen to be an activist, to speak out. Why did you make that choice . How can you let other people losing your first born son doesnt go away. Its not like its ever going to get better. You get better at carrying it. But every morning i wake up and think, hes dead, why is he dead. We have a picture of him on the back here and whats bothering me all day is that thats him five and a half years ago. He wouldnt look like that. He would be 30 now. He would have kids. All that was taken away from a lot of people in this crowd. When does money stop being more important than lives . The constitution starts with everyone has the right to life. Its not an amendment. Were going to keep hanging out with them throughout the day. They share this incredibly horrific bond but in many ways they say theyve been fighting this fight for quite some time and that they feel much more inspired by what these students from parkland and across the country have been doing. Fredricka. Ed in the thick of it all, thank you so much. There are folks who have come from all over the country. In fact, its not just in the United States but globally there are more than 800 rallies, all recognizing the tragedy that took place in parkland, florida where it all began just on february 14, a month ago, and now hundreds, thousands are gathering across the globe all committing to making it safer in schools, in movie theaters, on the city streets, everywhere. Well be right back with our live coverage of the march of our lives. Im very proud of the fact that i served. I was a c130 mechanic in the corps, so im not happy unless my hands are dirty. 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Were also hearing black lives matter chants because the students want to highlight that this isnt just about School Shootings. Its about gun violence in general. We should say this is not just students from boston. There are a number of young women in the front row from parkland, florida. People are coming from all around the country as far as florida and maine to join in this march, fred. Alex marquardt, well check back with you. That is the scene across the country. Here in the nations capitol its the primary gathering point behind me. The rally gets under way at noon and then over a threehour span people will be making their way from the u. S. Capitol, down pennsylvania avenue to the white house. Well have much more right after this. Welcome back. Crowds from coast to coast demanding stricter gun laws. All of this, all of this in recognition of the 17 lives lost. Right now a look out of new york city where at any moment now there will be a moment of silence to remember the 17 victims of the massacre at marjorie Stoneman Douglas high school last month. Our