'Books Not Bullets': Thousands of US students join protest against gun violence

A number of teenagers from Washington area schools chose not to attend their classes and gathered outside the White House on Wednesday to protest against gun violence. The White House said that US President Donald Trump "shares the students' concerns about school safety.”

US lawmakers took a step to address school gun violence hours after thousands of students gathered to join the largest protest against gun violence in years. The House of Representatives reportedly voted 407-10 to fund violence prevention measures at schools. SBS reports that these include boosting security, screening of mental health and creating reporting systems that will allow students to report threats.

The more controversial aspects of gun control are yet to be tackled. Among these are expanded background checks, changing the minimum age for some firearms purchases and a ban on assault weapons.

National School Walkout

Students across the United States are demanding stricter gun laws. To show that they want it so badly, they marched on the US Capitol holding signs that read "Protect People Not Guns" and "Books Not Bullets."

From Washington to Los Angeles, students walked out of their classrooms to demand an end to gun violence after a shooting rampage at a Florida high school, which killed 14 students and three staff members. Teenagers in other cities in all 50 states graced similar demonstrations. Many students in New York wore orange and walked out from schools as well.

Teenagers also observed a moment of silence to honour the victims of the recent mass shooting. Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School visited memorials for the victims, too.

Meanwhile, students at a high school in Cherry Hill, New Jersey assembled in a heart formation to pay tribute to the victims. In other cities including in Los Angeles, students spelt out the protest slogan #ENOUGH.

Speakers demanded that Congress pass tougher laws on gun ownership and denounced the National Rifle Association (NRA). "You, the young people of this country, are leading the nation," Senator Bernie Sanders told the students. He said that people are sick and tired of gun violence and that the time is now to stand up to the NRA.

The National School Walkout was intended to last for 17 minutes, but several students decided to skip school entirely and continue. The protests took place one month to the day after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire on teachers and students of his former school.

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