March For Our Lives Rochester

CONTACT: marchforourlivesrochester@gmail.com SCHEDULE: 3:00- 3:50 -Rally 3:50-4:30 - March 4:30-5:00 - Rally Please note, this is our approximate schedule. The times may vary based on circumstances. The march will be led by the rally speakers at 3:45. It is .75 miles and ends back where it starts. PARKING: There are several parking garages near Washington Square Park. If possible, please try to carpool and limit the number of one-person vehicles. WHAT TO BRING: Please dress warmly and for the weather. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing any food or water you may need while you are out. If you will need to be able to sit during the rally, please consider bringing a chair along. You may bring signs, but please refrain from bringing flags or large banners. TABLES: We will have the following tables at Washington Square Park: Voter Registration - led by the League of Women Voters T-Shirt Sales- shirts are $20 (exact change only) and all proceeds will go to Teen Empowerment Contact Your Legislators- we will have postcards available for you to write to your legislators demanding they take action ACCESSIBILITY: We will have an accessibility section at the front where ASL interpreters will be visible and people are welcome to set up chairs if they need them. SAFETY: While we expect a peaceful rally and protest, we understand there are plans for a counter protest. Law enforcement agencies are monitoring. A "gun-rights advocacy group" has stated they want a "Peaceful Counter Protest." General safety tips: -DO NOT ENGAGE with those who are there to disrupt the event or are antagonistic in any way. -Have your cell phone with you at all times and if you begin to feel threatened or believe things are taking a turn to violence, call 911 immediately. - Do not engage with the counter protestors. Please note, we do not expect any conflict, but we want to share these tips just in case. March For Our Lives Official Statement: "Not one more. We cannot allow one more child to be shot at school. We cannot allow one more teacher to make a choice to jump in front of a firing assault rifle to save the lives of students. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or text that never comes. Our schools are unsafe. Our children and teachers are dying. We must make it our top priority to save these lives. March For Our Lives is created by, inspired by, and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar. In the tragic wake of the seventeen lives brutally cut short in Florida, politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now. On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington, DC to demand that their lives and safety become a priority. The collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard. School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying when they should be learning, playing, and growing. The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues. No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in our country. Every kid in this country now goes to school wondering if this day might be their last. We live in fear. It doesn’t have to be this way. Change is coming. And it starts now, inspired by and led by the kids who are our hope for the future. Their young voices will be heard. Stand with us on March 24. Refuse to allow one more needless death. MARCH FOR OUR LIVES!" This is Rochester's sister march for the one in DC. We will meet at Washington Square Park at 3:00 for a rally. We will march .75 miles from there and then back to Washington Square Park for some more remarks before concluding at 5:00. All school communities are welcome from Monroe County, as well as any teachers, administrators, parents, and allies.