Emma Simon: March for Our Lives comes to Joplin

(The author of this post, Emma Simon is a senior at Joplin High School.)

With the sun being out and a cool breeze in the air, it was a beautiful day to March for Our Lives. The Green Alliance of Southwest Missouri put the event on, but they let us students have the lead. Not only were we the speakers, but we were the chanters and the organizers.

We used our First Amendment rights as young adults to stand for something we truly believe in and that affects us every school day.

We [the speakers/organizers] walked together to the meeting spot with the rest of the protesters. I had a small knot in my stomach because I was worried, like many of us were, that no one would show up. But as we approached the meeting place, we saw a huge mass of people - waiting for us. It became real. We were doing something important. And adults were not only noticing our message, but they were supporting it.


As I looked into the crowd, I saw the faces of veterans, teachers, parents and peers who were just as angry as we were.

We started down Main Street shouting chants such as “That’s alright, NRA. We are going to vote you out someday” and “What does democracy sound like? This is what democracy sounds like.” Walking several blocks, we ended up in the Spiva Park, where we would all speak.

Each student speech varied in tone, some angry and some giving emotional testimonies on their first hand experiences with gun violence. After all the speakers, we let anyone who wanted to say something come up and do so. We heard stories of lost family members by guns. And those who had horrifying run ins with people who had access to guns - who shouldn’t have.

While the crowd sat in the sun for over an hour listening to speech after speech and screaming chant after chant, they never once lost engagement. Many had tears running down their faces. I had one lady come up to me and ask how she could donate to our cause. It was invigorating to finally be heard and to know that there were so many community members who support us.

Even though the national marches are over, the movement and the conversation it entails about gun control legislature still continues.


The #NeverAgain movement will not rest until something is done to protect students lives. Our jobs should be going to school, doing our homework, maybe having a part-time job to pay our car insurance. It should not be worrying about whether or not we are going to die trying to get an education.

For those who wanted to be there in support - but couldn’t be - still get involved. Go to a Green Alliance or Southwest Missouri Democrats meetings. Write your legislators. Hear your students. But most of all, speak up for what you believe in.