On March 24, thousands of Seattleites took to the streets in the March for Our Lives, demanding stricter gun laws. Among the marchers were several Inglemoor students, including juniors Anisha Chowdry and Jocelyn Ayenew and seniors Bailey Johnston and Jed Go.
“It was kind of, almost, a necessary thing to do,” Go said. “I wanted to experience it as much as I can. It felt right.”
Chowdry, who planned the March 17 Walkout at Inglemoor, was also a volunteer at the Seattle march. She said that by attending and organizing the march, she had become part of a larger movement.
“I am only one person, but I am one person who is willing to come out to show support for a cause that affects all of us,” Chowdry said. “I, like many other students, am tired of having the thought of dying in the back of our minds.”
Johnston seconded Chowdry’s thoughts.
“I went because I want action to be taken,” Johnston said. “I feel like everyone is contributing to a protest that can only make a difference if we’re all together.”
Ayenew also said that she was impacted by the large turnout for the Seattle march.
“It’s always sad to have to march for a cause like this, but it’s really amazing to see so many different people from so many different backgrounds walking together to show their solidarity,” Ayenew said.
However, Go said that students still have a ways to go in their activism before laws are changed.
“One thing that I did notice is that there weren’t really a lot of teenagers.” Go said.
Go’s experience was true nation-wide — only 10% of protesters were under the age of 18.
Despite this, Go said that she is still hopeful.
“I felt really proud of my peers,” Go said. “If there’s thousands and thousands of people doing something, making something, putting in the effort and the time and money to put this change out there, there better be something happening.”
