Students Storm State House In Rally For Stricter Gun Laws

BOSTON, MA — Even as school was cancelled for most of them, hundreds of students braved the snow, walking and taking public transportation to the State House Wednesday afternoon to send a message to lawmakers in an effort to end gun violence in schools.

Chants of "No justice, no peace!" and "Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go" flooded the Boston Common paths as the protest moved from the Cathedral Church of St. Paul to the State House; police stopped traffic to let them cross the street. "Not in our schools, not in our streets" rung out in front of the General (Joseph) Hooker Entrance to the State House, which turned into "State House? Our house!"

"I want us to be noticed," an 11-year-old home schooler told Patch as Andover High senior Charlotte Lowell stood on the steps of the State House and lead the cheers with a blow horn. Lowell organized Wednesday’s rally with March For Our Lives Boston.

In addition to being heard, students came in the hopes that they could help bring about change where adults had not been able to, they told Patch.

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Students across the country planned to walk out of their classes Wednesday at 10 a.m. for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 people killed in the Parkland, Florida, school shooting last month. The snow cancellations in the Commonwealth meant many high schools had to relocate or reschedule their walkouts. But WalkOut for Action and March for Our Lives organizers took to social media and email to let students know the State House rally was still on.

“Students are this movement. We won't stop until we feel safe in our streets and in our schools. Students are power," said Lowell during the rally.

And for many, this was the main event and they felt it.

"We really just wanted to show that we believe in something enough that we're willing to fight for it," said Maren Larkin who came to the really with a group of Arlington classmates. "Children are being murdered all over our country and it's not okay any more," she said.

Students showed up from more than 25 area schools: Arlington, Brookline, Beverly, Waltham, Newton North, Somerville, Cambridge, Weston, Boston Latin, Concord-Carlilse, Wellesley, Malden, Winchester, Mystic Valley Regional, Shrewsbury, Dover-Sherborn, Hamilton-Wenham, Andover, Revere, Sharon, Waltham, Braintree, Dann Academy in Waltham, St. John's Prep, Boston Arts Academy, Emerson College and Belmont.

"We're just really passionate about this issue, a lot of people were talking about it but we wanted to take action about it," said Rachel Cosgrov, a junior at Waltham High School who took the T to the State House with two classmates. The three said that although their principal planned an event in the gym in Waltham, this felt more real and effective because they were asking for substantial changes that could make a difference to the people who could make the changes.

More than 25 legislators joined the students in the State House's Gardner Auditorium and listened to the student speakers who were short and sweet.

"In Massachusetts we have the toughest gun laws in the nation, and in turn we have the lowest gun-related deaths in the nation," said Vikiana Petit-Homme, a Boston Latin Academy student to the crowd, with the legislators in their seats behind her. "But the fight is not over. The fight is ever going in Mattapan, in Dorchester... Massachusetts is not doing enough."

Several students spoke about communities of color where gun violence was being overlooked.

"I'm lucky," said 16-year-old Evelyn Reyes from Roxbury. "Gun control has never directly impacted my life. But we should not be waiting til we become victims to take up the call to action."

She spoke of the availability of illegal guns and the need of education, movement, and action.

"It is easier for anyone to get a gun than it is for me to get my drivers license," said Reyes to snaps from the crowd. "If someone gets shot, it's not just that one person who gets shot; It leaves a hole in the entire community."

She spoke about a need for a better sense of equality in Boston in tandem with something more:

"The solution is to implement adequate gun control," she said. “Boston is two different cities. Rich is not a synonym for peaceful, and poor does not mean violent,” to cheers and a standing ovation.

Lowell asked legislators to introduce themselves and answer the question of whether they would stand with the students through action. One by one State Representatives introduced themselves and told the students their representatives stood with them, encouraged them to continue pressing for change and hold the legislature accountable.

Senator Sonia Chang Diaz of Jamaica Plain got a cheer.

"I'm blown away although not surprised by your presence here," she said. "Your sight is so clear and your moral voice and clarity is so needded at this time... Remember that gun trafficking affects us all."

Students had to ask legislators to keep their comments short and in the end there wasn't enough time for every legislator that came to be heard. Students pressed for a promise from legislators about specific support on H3615 Bill the"red-flag" bill recently introduced in the House, eventually prompting them to stand to indicate they would do so.

And plenty of parent and adult allies showed up, too. Somerville parents showed up with orange arm bands.

"We wanted to show up to show support. I think this is our future these young people are amazing. We've been working for gun control for years, decades, especially after Sandy Hook but we've never seen the emotion and energy that this inspires," said Emelia Encallado from Beacon Hill who brought a self portrait her daughter made while she was in school, it depicts a girl, mouth open, screaming in some sort of protest.

"We had strict gun laws but we have neighbors who have very much less strict laws. Yes, we're in a little island here in Massachusetts, but we're concerned for people in other states, too. You can't help feeling impacted by deaths even though they're far away," said David Crossman also of Beacon Hill.

State Rep from Allston Brighton Kevin Honan told students he was in.

"I do support the stances you're taking today," he said.

Although he was not on hand at the rally, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said he supported the students in a press conference Tuesday when asked about the planned Boston Public School walkout. “Certainly, the NRA and Congress … they’re not listening to adults. Maybe they will listen to young people.”

• RELATED: Students Walk Out, But Do Schools Have Their Backs?
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Photos by Jenna Fisher/Patch