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The world's biggest march to protest gun violence saw many emotional highs. One, 14000 pairs of shoes were placed in a park outside Capitol Hill in memory of children killed due to gun violence. The 24th March 24 'March For Our Lives events' saw the rise of a young voice, activist Naomi Wadler who took stage not just to protest gun violence but also acknowledge the absence of reporting of such violence against African American girls. This led to a surge in protesters coming together, especially young people and teens in the heart of Washington D.C.
Women gathered across the nation. Among them 11-year-old Naomi Wadler stood out with a powerful and heartfelt speech.
“I am here today to acknowledge and represent the African-American girls whose stories don’t make the front page of every national newspaper. These stories don’t lead on the evening news,” Wadler roared at the Washington D.C. March for Our Lives rally.
In the wake of advocating against gun violence, a pool of women and girls marched on Saturday to having important discussions over stricter gun control laws in America causing epidemic of gun violence.
“I represent the African-American women who are victims of gun violence, who are simply statistics, instead of vibrant, beautiful girls, full of potential,” Wadler added acknowledging all the black girls and women who held victims of gun violence and gone unnoticed in the media.
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The powerhouse, Wadler, 11, had a powerful impact when started her speech. Nobody would have thought of hearing such an inspirational standup, especially not from a fifth grader at least.
Activist Wadler, who won over the crowd in Washington, hails from Alexandria, Virginia. She led a walkout at her school, George Mason Elementary School in Alexandria on March 14. She organized the event in honour of the 17 victims who died in the Parkland, Fla. school shooting and Courtlin Arrington.
Like Wadler many students headed to the movement. While praising the power of fellow youth who could champion any mission if driven by determination, she hailed, “My friends and I might still be 11, and we might still be in elementary school but . . . we also know that we stand in the shadow of the Capitol, and we know that we have seven short years until we too have the right to vote.”
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Watch Wadler’s speech taking over the social media during this weekend:
She told the crowd. “For far too long, these black girls and women have been just numbers. I am here to say never again for those girls too. I am here to say everyone should value those girls too.”
The big march came in the wake after a shootout when an African American teenager was shot dead in her Alabama high school after the Parkland shooting.
“People have said that I am too young to have these thoughts on my own. People have said that I am a tool of some nameless adult. It’s not true.”
Other speeches that are worth listening to:
Naturally, Netizens wouldn't stop saluting the young activist and her guts:
Feature Image Credit: The Cut
Also read: How to handle cyber sexism? Stand up to it!
Read More Stories By Ria Das
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