WASHINGTON (WCMH) – Students, teachers, and activists of all ages from Ohio made the 7-hour bus trip from Columbus to Washington, DC to take part in the March for Our Lives rally.
Friday night, about a hundred students and chaperones boarded two busses here in Columbus and headed for the nation’s capital. The march in Washington is the centerpiece of a day that included more than 800 sister marches worldwide. Most of the marches have been organized by students who believe representatives at all levels of government are not doing enough to protect students in the wake of recent school shootings.
About 165 people from Ohio marched for change, past Ford’s Theater and through the streets of the nation’s capital.
The teenagers who spoke with NBC4 say they just want to be heard.
“I want Congress to hear us, I want legislators on all levels to hear us, I want other young people to hear us,” said Jillian Finkle, a senior at Mason High School. “I want everyone no matter how old they are, but especially young people to feel like they can make a difference.”
Upper Arlington High School junior Cameron Keller said that if gun laws do not change, politicians face being outsted by their voting public.
“My voice counts as well as every other person’s voice because we have an opportunity to either change our policy or change our legislators. It’s one or the other. If they don’t change for us then we’ll change them,” he said.
Some parents even made the journey to support the cause.
“I think with all of the kids coming to D.C., all of the other marches in the city, hopefully they’ll hear their voice and realize that you know, something has to be done,” said Traci Lewis, a parent from east Columbus.