Students march in Mount Vernon, Bellingham, D.C., worldwide

Teens, parents and elders made the trek to Mount Vernon to support students from at least the Anacortes, Burlington-Edison, La Conner, Mount Vernon and Sedro Woolley school districts in the Skagit County March for Our Lives. An estimated 1,000 people gathered at Mount Vernon high school at 12 p.m. under clearing skies to hear students encourage their fellow students to be brave and make history.

Arlo Liddell, a La Conner High School junior, was one of the speakers.

The crowd marched the eight-tenths a mile to Mount Vernon City Hall, carrying signs and chanting. Crossing I-5 on Second Street, they waved their signs at cars below and got many encouraging honks.

Big Bellingham march

The drizzling rain and 40 F temperature did not deter the over 2,000 people of all ages from gathering at Bellingham’s city hall 10 a.m. Saturday to demand an end to gun violence and for students to be safe in their schools. Others thought the crowd was over twice the size the police estimated.

From toddlers to grey beards to dogs, all were dressed for the weather. All were primed for the rally. There were more signs then umbrellas (see editorial, page 2).

The speakers on city hall’s steps were all students, and perhaps our future leaders. They spoke passionately and confidently. “Look around you,” one young women said. “It is up to us to hold members of Congress accountable. Words are not enough.”

A young man challenged the crowd, and the world, saying “recognize what the real problem is,” then speaking to hypothetical opponents, “whoever shoots me down, thank you, for you have proved my point.”

Another confident student encouraged the group: “I am so proud to be among students, classmates, parents, teachers and community members.” She called for action: “Change will only come when we unite and work toward a solution.”

Another male teen got cheers after saying “we just need to agree we never want it to happen again.”

Several made the point that Democrats and Republicans could agree that all want students to be safe.

One of the last speakers named gun violence as “an American problem.” She said they were not demanding an end to all guns, then drew cheers with her conclusion that eighteenth century legislation cannot control twentieth century weapons.

The crowd walked spiritedly down Grand to Chestnut and up to Commercial Street, looping back to City Hall.

Organizations staffing tables included Black Lives Matter, the League of When Voters, Whatcom Instant Runoff Voting and Planned Parenthood.