The Youth Take a Stand!

The stand taken by the youth of America against firearms is tremendous, but only perseverance can turn their dreams of a better future into reality.

“Don’t shoot me. I am trying to study.”*

“We want a graduation, not a funeral.”*

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. students have taken to the streets with slogans such as these against the status quo of the arms industry which, in alliance with the individualistic and colonist spirit that forged the country, has achieved a boundless position of power. The new generation of Americans, struck by increasing mass shootings carried out by fanatics in its classrooms, is demonstrating its persistence and determination more than a month after the latest attack, which killed 17 youth in Parkland, Florida. This also hints at the beginning of a new era of political activism, a tradition that on many occasions has played a vital role in the U.S.

On Saturday in Washington, hundreds of thousands of youth packed onto Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol in what was called “The March for Our Lives.” They had the support of another 800 protests across the country. Their manifestos were read out before Congress, the target of their proposals. It is an attempt to refocus the national, political debate on the issue of limiting firearms as an election approaches that will reshape the House of Representatives, a third of the Senate, as well as the majority of state governors.

On the streets, the pressure is growing, but for the moment, it hasn’t succeeded in making an impact on the government. Hours before the marches, President Donald Trump signed several proposals that don’t include any special measures to tackle gun violence. Congress has not made any changes, but some states have introduced initiatives to deal with the problem. The challenge for the youth is enormous, but only perseverance can really put the future into their hands.

*Editor’s Note: Although accurately translated, these quotes could not be verified.