In spite of the chilly weather and soggy rain, an estimated 1,000 students and their supporters turned out Saturday to march from the MU Columns to the Boone County Courthouse as a protest to gun violence.
The students joined the global March for Our Lives rally, carrying signs that read, "Will I Survive High School?" and "Will I Be Next?" Among the marchers were elementary school children, teenagers, teachers and parents.
When the procession reached the courthouse, students and others spoke passionately about safety in their schools and the need to change gun laws.
"We have more power, more intellect, more drive and more resources than any generation before us ever has," said Rachael Erickson, a sophomore at Rock Bridge High School.
"We have more to lose than any generation before us ever has. If we continue to use everything at our disposal like we are today, we can create a safer world for our children."
At least 800 marches were held around the world Saturday, including one in Washington, D.C., attended by survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 died.
The Columbia event was arranged by high school students and followed the March 14 National School Walkout when more than 1,000 Columbia high school students walked out of their classes to honor the Parkland victims.
Maddie Guess, an 8-year-old at Mill Creek Elementary School, said she wanted to participate in the march “to help other kids.”
“I don’t want them to get hurt,” Maddie said. “(I want) to help them.”
Maddie said she also participated in the Women's March, and hoped this one would be just as fun. Todd Guess, Maddie’s father, said he was proud of his daughter’s and other students’ activism.
“Ever since Parkland kids raised the awareness, I’ve just loved that this is democracy in action,” Todd Guess said. “The excitement’s coming from kids themselves."
During Saturday's march, Allie Easton, a 13-year-old student at Lange Middle School, walked with her mother, Rebecca Easton, the tools and technology leader of the Columbia chapter of Moms Demand Action, which helped raise funds for the march.
Rebecca Easton said she believed some Democrats and Republicans in Jefferson City were more receptive to Moms Demand Action’s pleas for "common sense legislation" after the Parkland shooting.
"I think some people are listening," she said. "And I think having the kids be the ones to speak up is having an impact."
"During the walkout, we almost filled up the entire cafeteria with kids that wanted to speak out against this sort of stuff," Allie said.
Gavin Mills, 15 and a freshman at Marshall High School, made the trip to Columbia to march. He said he came to show his support for the movement.
"All lives are at risk, and my life’s at risk," he said.
He said he was glad that so many people joined the march: "It shows people that America wants a change and that the youth really cares."
Chip Cooper, who provided American flags for marchers to carry, said the movement has empowered kids.
"It took a long time for the kids to realize that they’re the ones that are being harmed," Cooper said, "that their lives are being threatened by the actions and inactions of the adults."
At the rally, several speakers, including Erickson and retired teacher Judie Hackworth, called out specific legislators for blaming recent violence in schools on violent video games and other media instead of on guns.
"If you don’t have a gun in your house, the likelihood of them going and shooting up the school is very small," Hackworth said. "It’s the gun."
The students who organized the march were clear that they won't stop pushing for gun reform.
"Do you want change?" Maddie Marrero, one of the student speakers, asked the crowd at the rally.
"Then fight for it."
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