On a rainy Saturday morning, almost 1000 students, Americans and Brits gathered together at the US Embassy in London to demand gun control. Signs that read “Books not bullets” and “one child is worth all the guns in the world” were held high while protesters chanted “we call BS” and “vote them out”. This comes in the wake of teens like Emma Gonzalez who have been vigorously campaigning for gun control after o seventeen f their peers and teachers were killed in a Florida school. The March for Our Lives rally is one of eight hundred rallies for gun control taking place around the world. Larger political organizations like Women’s March London and Amnesty International (UK) have aided the efforts of mainly students and American expats living here in London. At the march on Saturday, there was a large presence of under eighteens with ages ranging from four and five to seventeen.

Students like thirteen-year-old Declan Miele-Howell an American who has lived in London from the summer of 2014 could see that gun control in America was not only wanted, but greatly needed. He says that “it’s not right” and that “the government isn’t listening”.

When asked how under eighteens can be involved, student and organizer David Schollon named four main things: “A.) have a well-informed political opinion. B.) read some articles in some more easily digestible publications (Buzzfeed, The Atlantic etc.) if the more dense newspaper articles are too overwhelming. C.) Follow your leaders and activists on social media to hear directly from them. D.) make sure you follow folks who’s opinions differ from yours as well (I know seeing someone on Twitter saying things you think are absurd is frustrating but forcing yourself to hear what the other side is saying is the only way to fully wrap your head around certain issues)! E.) GET INVOLVED - start a political club at your school, phone bank with local political organizations, volunteer on a campaign this summer (and if you’re in London do so remotely - campaigns need help with digital social media things!) F.) hold the adults in your life accountable - make sure your parents and family are voting and make sure they are voting for your future!”

On a rainy Saturday morning, almost 1000 students, Americans and Brits gathered together at the US Embassy in London to demand gun control. Signs that read “Books not bullets” and “one child is worth all the guns in the world” were held high while protesters chanted “we call BS” and “vote them out”. This comes in the wake of teens like Emma Gonzalez who have been vigorously campaigning for gun control after o seventeen f their peers and teachers were killed in a Florida school. The March for Our Lives rally is one of eight hundred rallies for gun control taking place around the world. Larger political organizations like Women’s March London and Amnesty International (UK) have aided the efforts of mainly students and American expats living here in London. At the march on Saturday, there was a large presence of under eighteens with ages ranging from four and five to seventeen.

Students like thirteen-year-old Declan Miele-Howell, an American who has lived in London from the summer of 2014 could see that gun control in America was not only wanted, but greatly needed. He says that “it’s not right” and that “the government isn’t listening”.

When asked how under eighteens can be involved, student and organizer David Schollon named four main things: “A.) have a well-informed political opinion. B.) read some articles in some more easily digestible publications (Buzzfeed, The Atlantic etc.) if the more dense newspaper articles are too overwhelming. C.) Follow your leaders and activists on social media to hear directly from them. D.) make sure you follow folks who’s opinions differ from yours as well (I know seeing someone on Twitter saying things you think are absurd is frustrating but forcing yourself to hear what the other side is saying is the only way to fully wrap your head around certain issues)! E.) GET INVOLVED - start a political club at your school, phone bank with local political organizations, volunteer on a campaign this summer (and if you’re in London do so remotely - campaigns need help with digital social media things!) F.) hold the adults in your life accountable - make sure your parents and family are voting and make sure they are voting for your future!”