Thousands rally in Raleigh, Durham to demand action on guns

The "main" rally took place in Washington, D.C., where a half million people were expected for speeches and performances by pop stars. Sister rallies took place all across the country.

A slate of speakers across a range of races and ages urged a crowd of thousands in Raleigh to commit to voting in the 2018 mid-term elections and beyond and to stay engaged in the fight for gun control. Groups were on hand to help with voter registration.

North Carolina Sen.Jay J. Chaudhuri spoke – as a parent and a lawmaker – urging listeners to be prepared to "walk in" and confront lawmakers with their demands for change.

A 12-year-old speaker, who declared himself "proudly the son of immigrant and undocumented parents," got some of the loudest cheers for his composed and emotional remarks.

"Remember, my generation will soon vote," Uriel Rodriguez said. "My friends and my classmates will soon vote, and we will not forget what you have done."

Teachers and students were well represented in the crowd, many carrying signs critical of current popular suggestions to prevent school shootings.

"I will protect your kids, but I should not have to," read one man's sign.

"I should be writing my college essay, not my will," another read.

Raleigh's event was organized by Amber Mitchell and Lauren Smith, both 15.

"So the story is, I wanted to go to Washington," Smith said. "I asked my mom, and she said no, and I said, 'Fine, I'll do my own march.' And here we are."

On the stage, students from Sanderson and Leesville high schools and from area colleges spoke passionately about the long list of school shootings during their young lives.

"Because of this, I am angry," said Maddie Harkins, a Sanderson junior.

Karen Haldeman, from Moms Demand Action, echoed that anger.

"We want change and we want it now," she said.

The crowd was peaceful, even joyful, chanting, "Enough is enough!" and "Never again!"

Sarah Christenson marched with her two daughters. "I've never been to a protest because I don't really know about them, but I don't want this one coming home in a body bag," she said, indicating her 16-year-old daughter, Abigail.

The teen said she had been moved by the actions of her Parkland peers.

"I know that youth don't have a large voice or large place in politics, but I think we need to and need to be listened to," she said.

In Durham, the gathering place was CCB Plaza at Parrish and Corcoran streets.

Amanda Abrams said she joined that protest because she doesn't want to worry about her son when he starts school being the victim of a school shooting.

"I don't agree with putting guns in schools," she said. "I think we need to get rid of guns."