Tens of thousands of New Yorkers joined in the global "March for Our Lives" protests on Saturday. They gathered at a rally on Central Park West before the march, where they were joined by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
"There was so much more that could have been done to prevent this," said MSD student, Meghan Bonner, fighting back tears. "I want to see change."
Manhattan resident Eileen Mintz says she was inspired to march by Parkland students.
"I saw what happened in Columbine, I saw what happened in Virginia Tech," she said. "I'm very concerned about my grandchildren who are in school."
She said the student-led movement is putting Congress on notice.
"I think if they see that these kids who are turning 18 very soon and will vote," said Mintz, "maybe they'll rethink how they have to vote."
That message was echoed by Nupol Kiazolu of the Youth Coalition for Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, who spoke at the pre-march rally.
"To the NRA and all the politicians taking money from them: we're going to vote you out of office."
Pelham resident Mary Lou Montalto was there to honor her 14-year-old granddaughter, Gina Montalto, one of the victims of the Parkland shooting.
"I know, being the caring loving person she was, she would want everyone to put down their guns," said Montalto, adding that a big part of the day's message is a simple one: "We need to vote to make our schools safer."
Marissa Ricklefs, who teaches fourth grade in northern New Jersey, said her students are very aware of how vulnerable they are. "They're starting to ask questions," she said, "like what happened at Sandy Hook, why would somebody do that, could that happen here, and there's no good answer for a 9 year old kid to that question."
A number of elected officials joined in the march, including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who also called in to WNYC's special coverage hosted by Brian Lehrer. He said it felt like the start of a new political movement — but with one caveat.
"They have to stay with it, Brian, and that was my message to a lot of young people today," said Cuomo. "They're insulted, they're offended, they see their government is just not doing what is the common sense thing to do, and they're outraged, and they should be."
Musician Paul McCartney also joined in the march. He told CNN that the issue of gun violence is deeply personal.
"One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here, so it's important to me," he said.
"One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here, so it's important to me," says Paul McCartney, remembering his Beatles bandmate John Lennon at the March for Our Lives in New York City https://t.co/u4aBKWC1Jb pic.twitter.com/8Jnjn8A3xH
— CNN (@CNN) March 24, 2018
Additional reporting from the Associated Press