The Reckoning
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March for Our Lives

A student holds a "do something" sign in the shape of the US made out of assault rifles.
Student in Atlanta holding a placard, “Do Something” about gun violence, 2018

On February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz murdered 17 people and injured 17 others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. After the shooting, the school’s students organized to oppose gun violence, and in doing so, established March for Our Lives. On March 24, 2018, millions of people gathered across the nation to protest gun violence. This March for Our Lives protest was organized and led by young people and at events in every city, young people were highly visible.  

Senator John Lewis marches with the students at March for Our Lives in Atlanta, March 24, 2018.
Senator John Lewis holding part of the “March for our Lives” banner at the intersection at Peachtree Street in Atlanta, 2018
Four students stand with handmade protest signs in front of the Atlanta capitol.
Students demanding justice in Atlanta at the capital, 2018
A student wears a "Vote out greed and complicity" shirt in front of the Atlanta capitol.
Protester at the capital in downtown Atlanta, “Vote Out Greed, Complicity” penned in on her shirt
Back of a protest shirt with "NRA blood money" crossed out.
Back of her protest t-shirt reads, “NRA Blood Money”
Students hold gun violence signs in front of the Atlanta capitol.
Students with placards at the capitol, “Assault Rifles, Never Again” and “Do Something”, 2018

At the protest in Atlanta, approximately 30,000 people attended the March for Our Lives protest (Atlanta Journal Constitution estimate), and they were supported by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Senator John Lewis. 

A line of black school desks sit in lines with white chalk writing, including, "Am I next?"
Student protest in Atlanta, chalk board desks express student fears in 2018
Women stand at a podium for the Women's March, 2018.
Atlanta rally, 2018
Barack Obama stands with with Stacey Abrams and Lucy McBath in front of a cheering crowd.
Former President Obama at a political rally for Lucy McBath and Stacey Abrams
Lucy McBath stands at a podium that says "Our Chance, Our Choice, Our Georgia."
Lucy McBath at an anti-gun rally in Atlanta, 2018

Lucy McBath lost her son to gun violence in 2012, ever since dedicating her life to stop gun violence. She became the national spokesperson and faith and outreach leader for “Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America,” a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence. McBath ran for the House of Representatives in 2018 and defeated Republican incumbent Karen Handel. McBath and Handel faced each other again in the 2020 election, and McBath won.