Nikolas Cruz carried an AR-15 into Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14.  He killed 17 people and injured 17 more before leaving the school, blending in among the students and being arrested an hour later.

In the wake of the tragedy, students at the school made their way into the eyes of the media, gaining a platform to lead a movement against gun violence. Around the country, students have organized walkouts, marches and other protests for an end to school shootings and gun violence. Louisville is part of that movement.

Local students took part in 17-minute walkouts in honor of the 17 students killed in the shooting.  The March For Our Lives was held in 800 cities around the world on Mar. 24, many marches organized by students.

Louisville was one of those cities, with almost 1,000 people in attendance on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Like many of the marches, Louisville’s was organized and led by students.   “

The march started near the Waterfront, where students and adults gathered with signs while they chanted, “This is what Democracy looks like,” and, “Hey, Hey, NRA, how many kids have died today?”

At the front of the march, students carried a banner that read, “WE’VE HAD ENOUGH.”

The march took a route down West Main St. and ended at the steps of metro hall. There was a moment of silence for gun violence victims, and after chanting “black lives matter,” they sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the official song of the NAACP.

Speeches followed, with multiple student speakers as well as Mayor Greg Fischer and Congressman John Yarmuth. The message was change, with a general focus on gun control.

Protestors in the crowd had varying opinions on the matter. Sacred Heart seventh-graders Bessie Kelley and Alek Kissel stated that protection for students was their focus.

Trinity student Porter Hunt said the federal government should confiscate assault weapons, similar to the actions Australia took after their only mass shooting. Like many other protestors, Hunt wants to end the NRA.

“The NRA isn’t effective because the Second Amendment is set in stone,” said Hunt, who is against the NRA-lobbied Dickey Amendment that essentially restricts the CDC from doing research into gun violence.

One counter-protestor, carrying a sign reading “Fear God, not man, not guns,” showed up with the intention to speak a religious message. Upon asking him for an interview, he replied, “Make it quick. I need to warn these people of their damnation.”

There was also a small group of Second Amendment supporters and NRA members present at the event. They carried the Gadsden flag and wore camouflage pants.

Glenn Miller stood towards the back of the crowd, his yellow flag in hand with the words “Don’t Tread On Me.”

He is a strong believer that an armed populace protects against tyranny. Miller believes that the primary change needed is a stronger enforcement of laws already in place. Miller also is in support of security personel in schools.

Of the march, Miller said, “I believe in their right to speak, just as I have the right to be here as well. America is the country that allows you to shout what you believe in, but then you have to sit down and let someone else shout, too.”

Gallery • 20 Photos

photos by Richard Gregor

Hundreds gathered in downtown Louisville for the March for Our Lives rally.