On February 14, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School became the latest site of a mass shooting. A former student walked in with an AR 15 rifle and 17 people lost their lives. On Valentine’s Day, parents learned their children would not be coming home. The shooter was captured a few hours later.

In the days that followed, it was found that the shooter was known to police for multiple domestic violence incidents. He had been expelled from Stoneman Douglas a year prior, and the FBI received a tip that he was dangerous and had a mass of weapons.

The survivors banded together and began speaking out against the tragedy. These 14 to 18 year olds just watched their friends and teachers be gunned down as they hid in closets and under desks. They demanded that adults do something. They demanded that the politicians get out of the NRA’s pocket and do something about these tragedies. Some adults heard them, some didn’t. These students are tired. We should all be tired.

Something should have been done after Sandy Hook when 20 CHILDREN lost their lives. Yet nothing was done. Something needs to be done. This has to stop.

The kids of Stoneman Douglas organized a national walk out on March 14, one month after the shooting. Students from across the country participated in the walkout. Some students have been featured on national news outlets, such as CNN, NBC, and CBS. Good Morning America, 60 Minutes, and the Today Show have interviewed some of the students over the past month. Celebrities have taken up the call in supporting the students, although in an interview with 60 Minutes, the students made it clear that they were still the leaders of the movement and would not be overtaken by politicians or celebrities.

This upcoming Saturday, March 24, students, teachers, parents, and community members will march in protest. Participants will march in protest of the inaction of political leaders, in protest of the violence in the streets, in protest of the uniquely American tragedy of mass shootings. While the current administration wants to arm teachers, we will be marching. Teachers do not need guns, they need books, pens, pencils, paper, and better pay. Students don’t need metal detectors and security guards, they need to learn in the safest environment possible, not a pseudo prison.

On March 24, we will march. We will march for our lives, we will march for our children, we will march for our future.