Dylon Harrison
Staff Writer
People all across the country marched through towns and to state capitals last month, demanding that the government pass gun reform to prevent future mass shootings following the recent tragedy at a Florida high school. Pocatello took part in the movement last Saturday.
The march was made up of students from ISU and local high schools as well as Pocatello community members. More than 100 people attended.
“I’m here to demand change in the government,” said ISU student, Koby Parker. “There’s a lot of terrible things happening in America right now and it’s time that change happened.”
The march was planned and sponsored by the Gateway Progressive Coalition and was also approved by the national organizers of March for our Lives.
The protesting was peaceful and organizers made sure to keep all public roads open and unblocked.
“Our voice is being heard,” said Mariana Leon, a student at Century High School. “I think it means we as a generation are finally stepping up.”
The Pocatello march took place a week after the majority of others across the country. This was done so local students would be back in town after spring break, allowing for a larger turnout. Another goal of the Pocatello march was to show that even in a conservative state, such as Idaho, there is still support for these types of movements.
“In a conservative state, you have to make your voice even more present,” Leon said. “It shows that we are diverse, it shows that we have opinions and it shows that we care about the issues that are happening in our country today.”
Area high school student Fatima Rahim gave a speech on the issue at the beginning of the event.
“It’s scary to know that for so many individuals across the nation, many of whom are my age, all of this: the people they love, their dreams and aspirations, their lives and their futures were taken away within a matter of minutes,” Rahim said.
She called for changes in gun regulation at all levels of the government.
“Enough is enough,” Rahim said. “We cannot wait for our children and parents and brothers and sisters to become another statistic. We need to understand and acknowledge that this is an issue.”
Councilman Roger Bray attended the event, but Councilwoman Linda Leeuwrik and Pocatello mayor Brian Blad were unable to attend, but did send their regrets. No other council members, nor the mayor of Chubbuck, Kevin B. England, responded to their invitations.
The league of Women Voters was also present at the march and were helping those who were not registered to vote register for the upcoming midterm elections this November.
The march spanned about three and a half miles, with a shorter route available for those who were not able to walk the distance of the full march. Volunteer taxis were also available for those who started marching but were unable to finish and needed help getting back to City Hall.
Protesters also specified that “gun control” does not mean taking away everyone’s guns, or the rights given by the 2nd Amendment.
There was no counter-protesting during the event.
