Thousands Donated to Help Fight Against Gun Violence

February 21, 2018 Charity, National News, School Shooting

Parkland, Florida students who survived the school shooting last week are taking matters into their own hands by advocating for change. Students are asking for stricter gun control laws and an increase in mental health resources. Calls to action–walkouts and marches–have spread throughout social media, and recently caught the eye of celebrities hoping to join the protest.

On March 14, 2018, the Women’s March’s Youth EMPOWER group is planning a national school walkout. The walkout is set for 10 a.m. in every time zone, everyone is encouraged to step out for 17 minutes, to honor the 17 individuals killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

However, a different event has gained more attention.

March 24, 2018 will mark the beginning of the nationwide March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C. and other cities. This event, organized by Parkland students, demands to address school safety and gun control in Congress.

A list of Hollywood stars are donating $500,000 to March For Our Lives. George and Amal Clooney kicked it off by first announcing their support of the survivors.

In a statement to USA Today, Clooney said “Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men and women from Stoneman Douglas High School. The statement continues, “Our family will be there on March 24 to stand side by side with this incredible generation of young people from all over the country…”

Clooney said they are donating in the name of their children Ella and Alexander to help pay for the “groundbreaking event”, he concludes by saying “Our children’s lives depend on it.”

Following the Clooney’s donation, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg have joined the pledge by saying they would also make a $500,000 donation to help with expenses and join the march.

“Marilyn and I are proud to stand with the brave young leaders from Parkland, Florida, who have taken their pain and grief and turned it into action,” Katzenberg said. “We will join Amal and George Clooney on March 24 to stand alongside these remarkable young people. We are also donating $500,000 to March for Our Lives to support this historic event.”

Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw then added their own $500,000 contribution to the demonstration.

“The young students in Florida and now across the country are already demonstrating their leadership with a confidence and maturity that belies their ages,” Steven Spielberg said. “Kate and I applaud their efforts to take a stand for the benefit of this and future generations. They are an inspiration to us all, and we are joining in this movement with a donation of $500,000.”

Shortly after, Oprah Winfrey decided to join forces by showing her support on Twitter.

Who’s next?

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Dani Matias is a student at the University of Texas. She is working toward a Bachelor's degree in Journalism with a minor in Spanish. She is an active member of Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Inc., NABJ and NAHJ.

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