Boston's March For Our Lives Gets Underway

BOSTON, MA — Students, teachers and parents gathered Saturday in Roxbury and headed to the Boston Common as part of nationwide March For Our Lives rally to demand tighter gun controls and safer schools.

"We really want to make sure this is not just a moment but a movement," Becca Munoz, a graduate of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School where the shooting that killed 17 inspired the march, told Patch before the march.

>> Watch footage of the march and rally below. See Photos here: March For Our Lives Boston: Thousands March To End Gun Violence

The current Northeastern student and one of the co-organizers for the March For Our Lives event added; "The conversation needs to keep happening for weeks and months."

This rally, she said, is one way to push the conversation and not just about gun violence in the white suburbs.

"We, the students of MFOL: Boston, are joining students across the country to demand that our lives are prioritized over access to guns. We seek to amplify and emphasize the voices of communities of color, who are both disproportionately affected by gun violence and silenced in their calls for reform. We are organizing and mobilizing our generation to raise our voices and take action on gun violence in America. We are calling on students and supporters to join us in this movement," reads a statement from the Boston organizers in a press release.

The rally organizers are quick to point out that the March For Our Lives is created by, inspired by, and led by students.

"We will no longer risk our lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence that has become all too familiar. In the tragic wake of the 17 lives brutally cut short in Florida, politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now," the statement continues.

>>See photos from today's Rally: March For Our Lives Boston: Thousands March To End Gun Violence

Here’s everything you need to know about Boston’s march and the rally:

Didn't this already happen on March 14?

That was just the beginning. On March 14, hundreds of students across the state used their snow day to come to the State House to rally and to meet with legislators. The March 24 march and rally was planned before that one and is expected to attract thousands more.

>> WATCH: Students Storm State House In Rally For Stricter Gun Laws

How many people are coming?

If the official Facebook invite is any indicator, more than 20,000 people will be participating in the march. Organizers are estimating the number that will find their way to the Boston Common will be closer to more than 60,000. As of Friday afternoon, about 19,000 RSVP'd that they'd be there, another 55,000 said they were interested or thinking about coming.

When is it all happening?

The march that heads to the Boston Common for the rally doesn't start until 11 a.m. Saturday morning. BUT, organizers are saying it's best to arrive wicked early; They're asking folks show up between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. because of traffic and possible road closures. The march kicks off at 11 and folks will likely get to the Common around noon, but the official rally on Boston Common won't start til 2 p.m.

What is the march route, and where does it start?

The march will start at Madison Park Tech Vocational High School (75 Malcolm X Boulevard in Roxbury) and folks will walk almost 2 miles to Boston Common down Columbus Avenue.

Why there?

The Roxbury High School campus location was very much on purpose, say organizers.

"It was really because we want to really spotlight the communities that are very much impacted by gun violence. And communities of color," said Michael Martinez who lives in Roxbury but is a Metco student who attends high school in Weston.

"It’s also about bringing people who are coming to this march into a neighborhood they may not have come into if they hadn’t come to to this march," he told Patch.

Will there be a speaking program?

Yep. And it will mainly feature the voices of young people and a couple of teachers. But don't expect to hear from a bunch of politicians this go round. "We want to keep the focus on the youth,' said Martinez who added politicians were certainly allowed to come and participate in the rally and march. The organizers have some tech to amplify the voices and performances planned for the day to help everyone hear.

How do I get to the March or the rally?

You can take either the MBTA Orange Line to Roxbury Crossing or hop on the bus (see which routes below) to Malcolm X Boulevard at Madison Park High School.

If you're heading straight to the Common, you take the Orange Line to Downtown Crossing, Park Street, or Boylston or the Green Line to Park Street or Boylston and walk over.

Check the MBTA for more info on how on time all those are running.

Any rule on what to bring?

You can hold a banner or a posterboard type sign, but sticks aren't allowed.

Also not allowed? Backpacks.

What should I wear?

Right now the weather forecast is calling for a high of 41 degrees and cloudyness with some possible rain, but we know how that can change, don't we? Dress comfy and whether you're planning to march the 2 miles from the school to the commons or just hang out at the rally, keep in mind you'll be on your feet for most of the time so wear a practical pair of shoes, and it can't hurt to bring a hat, and mittens. Those temperatures feel colder the longer you're out in them. And pockets are good. So might be a rain coat.

Will there be food?

The Boston Common has a bunch of restaurants; from Pizza to McDonald's to Dunkin to Chinese surrounding it. It should be easy to pop over to one for a quick bite during or after, but it might be smart to bring a few granola bars.

How else can I get involved?

• You can make a donation to March for Our Lives Boston here, and text “LIVES” to 64433 to sign the March for Our Lives Everytown Petition.
• The organizers for the event are currently selling T-shirts to support the costs that go into putting on the event.
• You can register to vote
• The organization is asking MA residents contact their representatives and urge them to support two bills that would impact the state’s gun control, the Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPO), and the State Full Assault Weapon Ban (H.R. 5087).
• The March for Our Lives webpage has a number of other ways you can get involved. So definitely check out their website: MarchForOurLivesBoston.com

What's the Hashtag?

You can shout out the March for Our Lives Boston demonstration on all social platforms and using the hashtag #MarchforourLivesBoston. You can also tag the mother march with #marchforourlivesdc.

There's also #NeverAgain

Tag the @BostonPatch or send an email to jenna.fisher@Patch.com and we'll feature your best photo in a photo gallery.

What if I can't make it in person?

Check this space for a couple of live Facebook feeds from the march.

You can also sign up to get alerts from the Boston Facebook page when we go live, which we will do a few times to give you a look at what's happening. >>> Go here and 'like' or 'follow' the Boston Facebook Page to get updates when we go live.

You should also read these:

Students Storm State House In Rally For Stricter Gun Laws

Parkland Students Visit Cambridge To Talk About #NeverAgain Movement

>> Sign up for Patch news alerts and a morning rundown of Boston and Cambridge neighborhood news. It's free.

-Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch