Thousands march against gun violence in Asheville

Posted on by Emma Grace Moon

In the wake of a deadly school shooting in Parkland, Fla., thousands gathered at Pack Square in downtown Asheville on March 24 to demand action against gun violence. The words “Enough Is Enough” and “No More Lives” rang out as the large crowd flooded College Street and made its way from Vance Monument to Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

A.C. Reynolds High School seniors and event organizers Aryelle Jacobsen and Jessica Villatoro led the march, along with 17 candle holders to represent the 17 killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Feb. 14. The rally began with a prayer from the Rev. Tyrone Greenlee.

“We come today, we march today seeking to understand and be understood,” Greenlee said. “We come today, we march today, we pray today, for future generations who deserve to live a life free of fear for their own safety.”

Rev. Tyron Greenlee says a prayer before the rally.
Rev. Tyrone Greenlee leads a prayer to start the rally. Photo by Emma Grace Moon

A diverse group of speakers followed, overwhelming the rally attendees with emotion. One of the speakers, Anna Dittman, was a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Dittman, 16, took the stage with tears in her eyes.

“This is so amazing to see,” Dittman said as she looked out at the crowd. “Thank you so much for supporting my school and supporting the lives of young American people and all the lives in America affected by guns.”

Anna Dittman, junior at Stoneman Douglas High School, spoke about her experience surviving the deadly shooting that killed 17 of her peers. Photo by Emma Grace Moon.
Anna Dittman, junior at Stoneman Douglas High School, spoke about her experience surviving the shooting that killed 17 of her peers. Photo by Emma Grace Moon

Dittman went on to assure the crowd that she and her classmates with continue to stay strong and keep the memory of the victims alive.

Lindsay Furst, a mother and a public school teacher, was one of the rally’s speakers.

“Gun violence is as American as apple pie,” Furst said. Tears filled the audience’s eyes as she explained what she would do in the event of a school shooter.

“I imagine lunging at the legs of a gunman, almost certainly a student I know, a student I may have taught to annotate text.”

Lindsay Furst, mother and public school teacher, speaks in front of the March For Our Lives in Asheville on March 24. Photo by Emma Grace Moon

Asheville was just one of many cities that held a March For Our Lives on March 24. From Washington, D.C. to Atlanta, hundreds of rallies took place all over the United States.

All photos by Emma Grace Moon.

 

 

 

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15 thoughts on “Thousands march against gun violence in Asheville”

  1. Lulz

    LOL they should raise the age to purchase to 21. Because anyone under apparently doesn’t have the ability to make good decisions lulz. That includes voting as well.

    • NFB

      This is the post-millennial generation — the generation that conservatives have been will be the most conservative generation since World War II.

      Yet the mockery and contempt being shown the post-millennial generation but Republicans, conservatives, and the NRA will only serve to radicalize them. So keep it up and watch the generation that was supposed to be the most conservative since World War II be lost to the conservative movement forever. These are their formative years.

      • Lulz

        LOL do they read civics? Do they understand that the sickness of society can be attributed to a social safety net that prempts consequences? After all when one is visited by the popo 50 times and still goes on a rampage, it seems the same system of no consequences led to some bad ones.

  2. Lulz

    LOL what is really funny is how a certain sheriff’s candidate is advocating killing gun owners to take.their guns lulz. MX didn’t cover it? Of course not. But do realize that mr sheriff’s candidate won’t like the consequences of such lunacy. If we’re at the point of killing people to take their rights away, then you have issues.

    • NFB

      And which candidate for sheriff is that and when and where did he makes this claim?

      • Lulz

        Fisher. He locked his Facebook so no one can see it. And of course he claims now it was a joke. Not very funny dude.

        I hope he gets elected just so he can act out his fantasies. And made one hell of an example of.

        • luther blissett

          Was “won’t like the consequences” a joke, a threat, or something else?

          “We’re law-abiding gun owners who back the blue and we’ll shoot any cops who come for our guns” is always a tricky mindset to parse.

        • NFB

          No, not funny at all. Agreed. Inappropriate and in very poor taste.

          But perhaps those on the right can take the advice they give to the left over a “joke” that offends the left’s sensibilities. “Lighten up, snowflake!”

        • Phillip Williams

          Whether the “cold, dead hands” gag was intended as a joke or not, I still don’t see the logic of some of his other remarks – particularly how he’d “like” to see the current 5-year renewal period for CCP shortened. I know he doesn’t have the power to change that particular thing, but he says he’d “like to” – as well as implement annual mandatory qualification, etc – Why? to get more fees out of CCP holders and further restrict and inconvenience citizens who have already been thoroughly vetted? How many gun-related crimes – or any kind of crimes – are committed by CCP holders? Last I heard it was something like .02% over the past several years. And I don’t know of a single CCP holder who has committed any mass shootings – not saying they haven’t, but I have not heard of even one.

        • Enlightened Enigma

          Can ya’ll just imagine if a republican had delivered this little joke ? It would be more blown up than this…and the candidate would be forced to withdraw…

          All these marchers are ignorant people who know NOTHING about the Constitution nor gun laws. Idiots being USED as pawns by the leftwing agenda.
          This is the mentality that comes out of government screwls. Get YOUR children OUT of there fast as you CAN!

          • luther blissett

            “Can ya’ll just imagine if a republican had delivered this little joke ?”

            Republicans deliver this little joke every day.

  4. James L. Smith

    Moon, you wouldn’t pull our legs, would you? Hundreds, maybe. Not thousands.

  5. john doesky

    Tide-pod eaters unite!
    No, no,….I meant Workers Unite!
    The bigger the government….the smaller the citizen.

  6. Enlightened Enigma

    Great quote there john doesky!

    ‘Truth is treason in the empire of lies’

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