Hundreds of students and staff, along with members of the communities of Waco and Killeen, came together to be heard in the national protest, "March For Our Lives." The rally in Waco was held at Heritage Square. The rally in Killeen was held at the Killeen Community Center, where participants marched across the WS Young bridge.
In Waco, the lives of the 17 people killed in Parkland, FL were honored, as their names and pictures were on full display. Students and organizers wrote speeches they read out loud to the people who were there. Then they marched around the block, chanting for change.
Among the protesters was a mother, Dana Stanke, whose daughter was shot when she was 12 years old. She said she was at the rally, "to make sure no other mother has to get that same phone call ever again." Teachers at the rally expressed their opposition against being armed in the classroom, holding signs that said, "I teach, I don't shoot."
Counter protesters were also out in Central Texas on Saturday, holding signs of their own and carrying guns. Open Carry Texas president C.J. Grisham said the rally was "all about gun control. This isn't about protecting our students, otherwise every option would be up on the table."
Just like the protesters, Grisham added that he too wants to keep students safe.
Students hope that lawmakers will see their efforts of coming together in the rallies as a need for change in gun laws.