Refresh for updatesPaul McCartney is among those marching against gun violence in New York City today, and spoke to CNN’s Jason Caroll to note, “One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here, so it’s important to me.”
McCartney was referring, of course, to John Lennon, who was murdered by a gunman on Dec. 8, 1980 outside the Dakota apartment building on New York’s Upper West Side, blocks from where anti-gun-violence protesters were gathering today to begin their march downtown.
New York is one of more than 800 cities worldwide where marches will take place in coordination with the massive Washington D.C. March For Our Lives event. Today’s events will be covered extensively on television.
Celebrities took to social media to express their support (see a sampling below), and the White House issued the following statement:
“We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today. Keeping our children safe is a top priority of the President’s, which is why he urged Congress to pass the Fix NICS and STOP School Violence Acts, and signed them into law. Additionally, on Friday, the Department of Justice issued the rule to ban bump stocks following through on the President’s commitment to ban devices that turn legal weapons into illegal machine guns.”
As of mid-day Eastern Time, President Donald Trump had not tweeted his thoughts on the topic from Mar-A-Lago, where he is spending the weekend far away from the D.C. gathering, though he did tweet about yesterday’s terrorist attack in France:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrible attack in France yesterday, and we grieve the nation’s loss. We also condemn the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support. We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 24, 2018
Here are some celebrity tweets about the march for gun reform in America. Deadline will update as the day goes on.
Today our nation’s youth are demanding their basic human right to go to school without dying in the name of greed. It’s time for Congress to act like adults worthy of their office. PASS TOUGHER GUN LAWS! BAN THE AR-15! STOP TAKING NRA BLOOD MONEY! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! #neveragainpic.twitter.com/Hhg0Qltnjr
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 24, 2018
Watching everyone marching and speaking up is so inspiring, and so powerful. Keep going. You’re changing the world. #MarchForOurLives
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 24, 2018
I am joining the March For Our Lives movement because I feel a sense of responsibility to use my platform to bring attention to the issue of gun violence in this country! #March4OurLivesLA
— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) March 24, 2018
“When a gun has more rights than you” ⚡️Today I stand in reverence of the students who’ve experienced such personal tragedy & used their voices to unite and action. Today we March For Our Lives. Today we reclaim our right to safety⚡️ Hope you can join/support #EnoughisEnoughpic.twitter.com/MIgci6GIa1
— Yara shahidi (@YaraShahidi) March 24, 2018
So ready to March today! Landed in DC w North & Kanye. We stand in solidarity with the survivors of gun violence & students who are calling for action on common sense gun safety laws at #MarchForOurLives around the country @AMarch4OurLives@Everytown
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 24, 2018
.@BTWFoundation & I believe in the power of young people to create a better future. We’re so proud to stand with @MTV & @NAACP to support the young people marching for safer schools and communities. I am proud to sponsor a bus, heading from Harlem to DC for #MarchForOurLives
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) March 24, 2018
I’ll always stand for open dialogue and action – it’s the only way to ensure bad history doesn’t repeat itself. When it comes to protecting our children, all bets are off and the responsibility lies with us adults and lawmakers to listen and do. Very strong day. #MarchForOurLivespic.twitter.com/4gJ0QKdMYw
— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) March 24, 2018
Let’s block ads! (Why?)