Thousands In Hudson Valley Turn Out To 'March For Our Lives'

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Hundreds of Hudson Valley students, parents and supporters showed up at local marches Saturday to protest gun violence and advocate for school safety. “March for Our Lives” events in the Hudson Valley included those in Ardsley, Ossining, White Plains and Poughkeepsie.

Nationally, there were estimated to be more than 800 demonstrations taking place throughout the day, with the march in Washington, DC organized by survivors of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL Feb. 14. Seventeen people were killed and more than dozen were wounded.

Signs spotted at some of the rallies said “I’d Rather Read Books Than My Classmates’ Obituaries,” “We Should Not Be Scared To Go To School” and “Students Demand Action.”

In White Plains, thousands marched from Post Road Elementary School to the courtyard behind the White Plains Public Library to hear students and local politicians speak.

More than 7,000 people were estimated to have participated in the “March for Our Lives” on the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie.

In New City, 2,000 people came to the Rockland County Courthouse Saturday for the student-led rally, according to media reports. Organizers held a moment of silence in memory of the Parkland victims, with 17 black chairs lining the courthouse steps.

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner was amazed by the turnout for the march in Ardsley.

He said he was expecting about 30 people to show up, but he said there were hundreds.

“Some of the students who spoke were so inspiring,” Feiner said. “It’s very exciting to see so many students involved and speaking so eloquently.”

He said his impression was that this was the first time since the Vietnam War that students are leading the effort.

SEE ALSO: Hudson Valley Students Join National Walkout Wednesday

“Today’s protesters will be tomorrow’s elected officials,” Feiner said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo participated in the New York City march Saturday.

He said that the turnout means that people aren’t going to take it anymore and that the NRA is not going to win the day.

“The people of the United States are going to win the day and common sense is going to win the day,” he said in a prepared statement.

Photo credit: Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.