What Eight Protestors Wore to the March For Our Lives
The March For Our Lives demonstration that took place on March 24 in Washington D.C. was a sea of orange, the symbol for gun control, and blue, from the movement’s merchandise. However, there were a few outliers who strayed from the norm and chose to voice their concern via clothing. Take a look at how eight unique marchers decided to express their protests creatively.
Brendan Wright/Barbara Comstock // 25 // Academic adviser at George Washington University
Tell me about what you’re wearing.
I’m Brendan Wright, but also today I am Barbara Comstock, of Virginia district 10. I’m just your everyday republican, on the go, just a little sensible sequin number, everyone needs one in their closet.
Why did you come today?
We’re here supporting Gays Against Guns and we want to make sure that all of these student activists which have been able to rally around being proactive and making a commitment to stop gun violence feel as though we as an activist group are also here to support them.
Who is Barbara Comstock?
She’s one of the biggest career donation acceptors from the NRA. She's received over 137,000 dollars from them over her career. as a Congresswoman. It’s important especially in this moment to proactively try to get people like that out of our representative offices.
Mari Gustafson // 48 // Owns clothing company in Brooklyn, NY
Why are you here?
We are trying to fulfill the gay agenda. They don’t understand how gun control is part of the gay agenda, but it is.
Tell me about what you’re wearing today.
I am wearing my lovely boa named Gilbert, after Gilbert Baker, the man who created the gay flag. And this man was so freaking fabulous and sadly passed away last year. When he did, I just started buying rainbow everything just to like, keep him near me, you know?
Tell me about your hat.
I have marching band issues, I am a band hag, that’s what I am. This is one of five marching band hats!
So why this one?
When the women's march happened, I was like, I don't know about these pussy hats, and I'm like oh I know! So I bought this band hat and spray painted it bright pink and then this is just like my gag hat. I wanted orange, it's a very important color in the gun control movement, so I tried to get as much orange into our protest, just like with the women's march I tried to get a lot of pink in there, so I spray painted my jacket orange and put on orange tights just so that we’ve got a lot of orange going on.
Javier Amezcua // 17 // Student // New Rochelle, NY
Why are you here?
For common sense gun reform. It's just ridiculous, the fact that normal people can get military grade weapons. I just think there shouldn’t be a possibility that someone can have access to something which’s sole purpose, sole creation was to kill people. I don’t think that’s necessary, at all.
Tell me about what you’re wearing.
Red white and blue. At the end of the day that's where we live, that's where we’re going to spend most of our lives. So, I want to make it safe for my kids and the people around me.
Cliff Beck // Retired // Maryland
Tell me about your T-shirt.
Uh just an idea that came to my mind.
Why are you here today?
To support the kids.
Olivia Neely // 20 // Student at Duke University
Why are you here today?
I’m here today because it's long overdue to start taking action toward gun violence in the United States. I think this movement is just so powerful and shows the power of the student voice and really finally starting to listen to young people, old people, everybody, who cares about this issue. It’s an incredible example of youth empowerment and youth voice.
Why a pussy hat?
Well I am an avid feminist, I’m pre-med, so I’d like to be an OBGYN doctor but I think it's really important to spread the message that it's important to care about multiple issues. To care about one and representing one definitely does not detract from caring about the other. I just wanted to represent that movement [women’s rights] as well here and bring them all together.
Nico Dearcangelis // 16 // Student at Middletown High School, Maryland
Why are you here?
We’re here to… i don’t know. Cause a little change, I guess.
Tell me about your shirt.
It’s all 17 victims of the Parkland shooting down in Florida.
Avery Owens // 16 // Student // Maryland
Why are you here?
Because I shouldn’t have to be afraid of getting killed in my school. It’s simple.
Tell me about your sweatshirt.
It says, ‘we call BS’, what the government is doing about guns is not enough and they’ve been doing it for too long and it's time that it stops, and it’s BS. We gotta call it out.
Did you make them together?
Yeah. We all have one. They all say something different.
Marybeth Hoey // 52 // Office Manager // Harrison, NJ
Why are you here today?
I’m here today because I’m not opposed to gun use at all. I’m not opposed to automatic weapon use, but there needs to be a change in the common sense of who we allow these weapons into the hands of.
There’s a problem. We’ve got a problem. We need some common sense installed into the gun laws and who’s allowed to have guns. No one needs 12 weapons, no one on this planet, and I hope it changes, I hope the government starts listening to the people. We the people, we hired them, not to rule us, but to lead us. They need to get back to leading us and hearing our voices.
Tell me about your shirt.
My shirt, it’s a quote by General Patton, actually. It said, lead me, follow me, or get the hell out of my way. I thought, how apropos. They need to open their ears and start listening to the people. Listen to us, lead us, or get the hell out of our way. We’re going to do it. Change is going to happen, so they might as well be a part of it.
The original version of this story was published on The Newshouse.