The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) joined youth from across Rhode Island to organize a rally at the State House on Saturday. The rally was part of a nation-wide March for Our Lives movement organized by youth activists to share their feelings about the horrors of gun violence as part of the “active shooter drill” generation and demand change from legislators at the local, state, and federal level.

The Rhode Island House of Representatives held a rare Friday night session to pass three of the five gun bills wanted by gun sense activists and organizations. The three bills, to raise the age to purchase firearms form 18-21, prohibiting open carry of guns in public and banning high capacity magazines, now moves onto the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

“I am deeply aware of how terrifying it is to be a student in America today,” said Jaliyah Joseph, a Woonsocket High School student who emceed the event. “But I also know that arming teachers and increasing police presence is not the solution to addressing gun violence. These harmful proposals will only deepen the school to prison pipeline for Black and brown youth…”

“We should be able, as schoolchildren in a first world country, to go to a place of education without the lingering fear, in the back of our brains, wondering is this day will be our last,” said Melissa Lescabeau, a student at CCRI.

“We know that gun violence disproportionately affects youth in poverty,” said Gabby Brown, a student at Met High School. “With systemic racism being the driving force of income inequality, it is largely communities of color being harmed.”

“Why is a tool of such chaos and such unnecessary power so normalized in American culture?” asked Isis Grafals, a student at Met High School. “Why do we plant these seeds of violence at such a young age?”

“Look, our Senate President has an A rating from the NRA,” said Harrison Tuttle, executive director o the Black Lives Matter RI PAC. “We ned to bring the energy we have right now to the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and advocate to pass the legislation.”

“I have become aware and indignant about the state of gun violence here in America,” said Eliza Adler, a student at North Kingstown High School. “What’s stopping me from being the next fatality on a list of those lost to the readily armed rage and hate that America has created?”

Bonnie Piekarski is executive director of The Milagros Project, which works to get food and basic needs out to our most at risk citizens in the Rhode Island area. She spoke for NyAsia Williams-Thomas, a student of hers murdered in Woonsocket.

“I am here to speak against gun violence,” said Night Jean Muhingabo from the Refugee Dream Center. “As a youth here in Rhode Island, I believe my life is worth protecting.”

Sophie, A Cranston High School West student recited her poem, “Why Are We So Angry?”