Thousands In The South Bay March For Stricter Gun Control

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Thousands marched in the South Bay Saturday as part of the nationwide "March For Our Lives" movement to demand stricter gun control. Demonstrators marched along the Strand from Manhattan Beach pier to the Hermosa Beach pier, where they had a rally.

Julie Vasquez, mother of local students, marched with a group of families from South Redondo Beach, including students representing Alta Vista Elementary School, Parras Middle School and Redondo Union High School. They chanted "enough is enough" as they made their way down the Strand, she said. It was a "very peaceful and beautiful day," she said.

Speeches were made by local elected officials who praised South Bay youth for organizing and making their voices heard, Vasquez said. Congressman Ted Lieu, State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and State Senator Ben Allen spoke at the event, and all said they support stronger gun control laws, according to Daily Breeze.

“Even the president said we should be afraid of the NRA,” Allen said. “The truth is, it’s a paper tiger. We cannot be afraid of them.”

However, Vasquez acknowledges that the march is only the start of conversation.

"We left the event with the understanding that this was not about a moment in time," she said. "It was about a movement, and we have much more to do so that tragedies like Sandy Hook and Parkland, Florida never happen again."

All photos courtesy of Julie Vasquez