(Image source from: usatoday.com)

Phoenix:
Two teenagers from Arizona are organizing a march in the wake of the terrible shooting in Florida High school last week. The two teens are rallying students in phoenix to march next month in solidarity with survivors of the deadly shooting incident. This is an attempt to pursue the gun control and other measures further which have been politicized always. The rally is called ‘march for our lives’

16 year old Samantha states, “Nothing has changed, And I figured something has to change so I took action where I could." Samantha Lekberg is a student of Willow Canyon High School in Surprise and is spearheading this march. This march is a national event taking place on March 24th all over the US. This is an attempt to pressurize congress to change the gun laws and bring about the much needed amendment for safety of school children specially.

On Valentine’s day Parkland shooting survivors organized this event. Lekberg had seen such incidents and heard of the horrifying stories, but, she stated “It stung. It felt very personal; the victims remind me of my friends. The victims' families remind me of my family”

Samantha was inspired to join the efforts of survivors calling out for march for protest in the next month and she stated, "This is our time to push for a change in gun laws, mental health education, and security in schools. We will be heard and things WILL change. I can’t help but to see me and my classmates in them. I see my best friends in the victims and I see my family in theirs. I think it has to do with the fact that we are at the same stage in our lives. We deal with the same things on a daily basis," she said. "So young people, now more than ever, understand the issue that’s going on because we are the targets. We are forced to quit being so naive when things like this happen.''

The irreparable damages to the families and kin’s of those who lost their lives are just too painful for the teens. This event shook the entire nation and now teens who may not be mature enough are still fighting for those bereaved families seeking justice.

Alexis Covarubbio, another teen stated, "I would be able to tell them [my children] that no, we didn't do it all and your mom is not responsible for this, but we did something about it and stood up for what believed in to make a change"

"Politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now," the group of survivors organizing this said in a statement announcing the march. "Not one more — we cannot allow one more child to be shot at school."

They want the safety and lives of children to become a priority and are seeking a comprehensive bill immediately.

"I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not," Lekberg said. "There are so many passionate people out there with so much optimism, many of which are planning on attending. I just feel inspired and ready to finally make something happen."

"I was in D.C. for Model U.N. conference and afterwards I️ went down to lobby Arizona legislators and senators," said Harb, 17, a junior at Mountain View High School in Mesa. "The responses I️ got were vague, all the usual politician shrug off. It was disgusting to me since the victims of these shootings are those my age — innocent children.We all give our thoughts and prayers, but none of them are taking action," he said. "It humbles me to see such a huge national movement. People, especially the youth, are sick of seeing shootings regularly. When mass death becomes the status quo, something has gone very wrong."

"I had received messages saying that marching for gun laws was a waste of time ... to which I didn’t respond at all. If you have such a pessimistic view on the world then eventually it will catch up to you and ruin your outlook on life," said Lekberg.

"All of them are persistent with it being student-led which I admire so much," said Lekberg. "It’s more impactful that way."

"We are ensuring this goes farther than just a simple protest — we are building a movement to empower our youth," Harb said. "The fact so many young people have been taking initiative on this is an amazing opportunity."

"I’m a firm believer in 'If there’s a will, there’s a way.' if there are so many people wanting a change, the change will come," Lekberg said. "It may not be easy to get, but it will come. I will not sit here and wait for it either."

By Minu Manisha