DC March For Our Lives: Everything You Need To Know

WASHINGTON, DC -- A massive rally is about to descend on Washington, D.C. this weekend as hundreds of thousands are expected to attend the "March for Our Lives" on Saturday, March 24. The rally is taking place in response to the slaying of 17 students at a Florida high school last month by a student armed with an AR-15, and it will include calls for increased gun control nationwide.

The march gained attention Tuesday as word spread nationwide about a Maryland school shooting about 65 miles from Washington, D.C. A student opened fire at Great Mills High School Tuesday morning in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Two students suffered gunshots wounds, the shooter exchanged gunshots with a school resource officer, and the gunman was pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Here's everything you need to know about Saturday's march:

What is the "March for Our Lives"?

While it is called a march, it is likely to be more of a rally. It was spawned after the massacre of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14. Police accused Nicholas Cruz, a former student, of conducting the rampage while armed with an AR-15.

The shooting caused a huge eruption of outrage across the country, and resulted in school walkouts both shortly after the event and on March 14, exactly one month after the event. The March for Our Lives rally is the culmination of the largely student-led movements.

The will be a far more partisan affair. The walkouts were intended primarily to mourn the victims at Parkland, while the rally will be focused on demanding more gun control.

Gun rights advocates, especially the National Rifle Association, are resisting efforts to increase gun control measures, including raising the age limit to buy weapons or banning the AR-15 altogether. This event is expected to be a major rallying cry in favor of greater gun restrictions and against the influence of the NRA in politics in general.

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Who is organizing it?

Student organizers are planning the march, in collaboration with nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety and with the support of wealthy donors. Cameron Kasky, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, announced the march -- along with his classmates -- back on Feb. 18. It quickly snowballed.

The march has attracted financial support from celebrities, including Amal and George Clooney, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Oprah Winfrey, and Steven Spielberg, who are the most significant donors ($500,000 each). Many other celebrities have offered support as well.

Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, and Demi Lovato are expected to join the marchers in D.C.

I’m so inspired by the #MarchForOurLives students out there owning their voices. We need to demand action. Get out there and join the march this Saturday — more info here: https://t.co/PviopFKjAo pic.twitter.com/7sQxjLUyQX
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) March 19, 2018

When and where will it take place?

The march is scheduled to start at noon ET on Saturday, March 24.

The march route will run along Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown D.C., from 3rd Street (near the front of the U.S. Capitol) to 12th Street (a few blocks from the White House and near the entrance of Trump International Hotel).

Road closures will begin early. It will start with no parking in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue NW as early as Thursday, which will extend farther down Pennsylvania Avenue and also on Constitution Avenue on Friday. From 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, the following roads will be closed (blue is the march route, and red are road closures):

Here is a map from the March for Our Lives website that shows a map with entry points:

Where are other rallies taking place?

Hundreds of rallies, too numerous to list here, will be taking place across the United States in conjunction with the event so that people who can't make it to D.C. can express their support for tighter gun control measures. Just about every major city is likely to see a demonstration of some kind, as well as most mid-range cities.

According to the March for Our Lives website, there will be 819 events worldwide. You can visit their website to search for one near you.

How many are expected to attend?

The National Park Service expects 500,000 to attend the rally in D.C. That would place it about on par with the Women's March on Washington that took place the day after President Trump's inauguration in January 2016.

What transportation options are available to get to the rally?

Getting to the rally will not be easy no matter what transportation option you choose, if as many people attend as the NPS believes. The Women's March on Washington made driving anywhere near the National Mall impossible, let alone finding any parking. And Metro trains were totally jammed with people, resulting in long waits just to get on an inbound train.

Your best bet is to arrive early -- very early, many hours before the event -- to get a Metro train into the city. Otherwise, be prepared to take a taxi or Uber to some place many blocks away and walk.

Where can I find more information?

The March for Our Lives website is here. You can also download the March for Our Lives app for free, which provides information like schedules and maps on your mobile phone.

TALLAHASSEE, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine (L) marches with activists at the Florida State Capitol as they rally for gun reform legislation on February 26, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. In the wake of the February 14 school shooting that left 17 people dead, hundreds of people joined the Parkland students to call for gun reform. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)