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Vancouverites hold march in solidarity with survivors of gun violence

Organizers are planning a march in Vancouver on Saturday to advocate for stricter gun safety legislation in America and tell US lawmakers that they must make student safety a priority.

Organizers are planning a march in Vancouver on Saturday to advocate for stricter gun safety legislation in America and tell US lawmakers that they must make student safety a priority.

The Vancouver March for Our Lives event is one of many demonstrations being held across the U.S. and around the world on March 24. A group of students that survived the school shooting in Parkland, Florida formed #NeverAgain and are leading the march on Washington.

A petition on the March for Lives website demands three actions from their elected officials:

1. Passing a law to ban the sale of assault weapons

2. Banning the sale of high-capacity magazines

3. Closing the loophole in US background check law that allows dangerous people to buy guns

The march is being organized by Democrats Abroad Vancouver in partnership with March On Vancouver, Youth Seeking Change and Rock Your World.

“The gun violence epidemic in America touches both Americans and Canadians living in Vancouver. Anyone who travels to the US or has family and friends in the US could be impacted by gun violence in America, and many already have been,” said Bodil Geyer of March On Vancouver, who is an American living in Vancouver.

About half a dozen people, including students, are expected to address the crowd at Jack Poole Plaza then march through the streets past the U.S. Consulate building before returning to the plaza.

“It’s also a deeply moral issue for us, since our two countries are so closely intertwined – you can’t just stand silently and watch your neighbour go through a crisis like this. I think the students here especially feel a need to support their fellow students in America who have demanded their political leaders start acting like adults and implement solutions to keep them safe,” Geyer said.

The Vancouver March for Our Lives starts at 10 a.m. at Jack Poole Plaza on Saturday.