‘We won’t stay silent’ thousands attend March For Our Lives in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The movement that took over streets all across the nation as hundreds of thousands of students, parents, teachers and others demanded an end to gun violence also took over our area.

The march was student-led and represented high schools in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties. The students said they were motivated by the February 14th shooting in Parkland Florida that left 17 dead.

“March For Our Lives is the perfect name, because that’s exactly what it is. We’re marching so this never happens again, so that lives are saved,” student organizer Sam Berliner-Sachs said.

Young voices spoke up and demanded change.

“We won’t stay silent,” student organizer Emiko Andrews said.

Seven student organizers planned the March For Our Lives in Wilmington and continued their call to action.

“If we are old enough to be gunned down in our schools we’re old enough to have an opinion about it,” Andrews said.

Andrews who is a sophomore at Hoggard High School said she was inspired by the survivors from the Parkland Florida school shooting and hopes others follow in their footsteps.

“This is what has driven us all here. Gun violence has led us to fear for our lives,” one student said during her speech at the march.

Students who organized the march said they will not stop until they see changes in legislation for gun laws, shouting enough is enough.

“We shouldn’t have to deal with this, we shouldn’t be. This should be a no brainer, safety in schools, safety from guns is so simple and we should not have to deal with it. But we are because we know it’s important because we care about our friends and we care about this never happening again,” Berliner-Sachs said.

Some students overcome with emotion showed strength and passion while discussing their fears.

“Something that has been kind of worrying me is that I think about what would happen if an active shooter came into my classroom. What I would do, how I would react, it scares me for sure,” Andrews said.

The students said they want to be heard and hope others join their movement. Many of the students who spoke encouraged everyone to register to vote during the march.

One student said she is trying to plan another walkout April 20th for the anniversary of the Columbine shooting.