El Paso students, elected leaders organize local March for Our Lives

El Pasoans took to the streets Saturday afternoon, in an effort to bring awareness to gun violence after the recent mass shootings at schools.

Sen. Jose Rodriguez and Rep. Beto O’ Rourke marched alongside those wanting to bring change to the U.S. gun laws.

Along with the hundreds that rallied for stricter gun control, there were also those that stood for the right to bear arms.

“Today, it saddens me to say, but we are here to march for our lives,” Rodriguez said.

Parents and children stood side by side holding signs that said “school safety is not a political issue” and “am I next?”

“El Paso is leading, and it’s especially the young people of El Paso who are helping lead in this state and lead in this country to make sure that we stand up for everyone in our life to make sure guns aren’t being used in our schools, in our churches, in our streets, to take the lives of those in our lives,” O’ Rourke said.

O’ Rourke said he defends the Second Amendment but is an advocate for universal background checks and stopping the sale of weapons of war like the A.R. 15.

Middle school student Syvonae Acosta said she is the next generation of voter, and she wants elected officials to know she wants to be heard.

“We either need to take out those who are not hearing us and put in people who will,” Acosta said.

But there were also those in attendance in support of the Second Amendment.

“Their desire to reduce violence is admirable, but their ideas are misplaced. It’s not the guns’ fault. Back in the 1950’s you could buy a fully automatic gun through mail order with no background check, and we didn’t have school shootings. It’s society,” said gun advocate Joe Clayshult.

Teachers and administrators also joined the rally to support their students’ ideals.

“I think that it is an incredible time to show that we don’t leave a man behind. We don’t leave our kids behind and if they are brave enough to come out and brave enough to make a change then as educators we should support them and stand with them knowing that their lives matter,” said Nora Garcia, a school councilor.

At the march both Rodriguez and O’ Rourke stressed the importance of voting.