Inside the wave of post-Parkland student activism

In events across the country, thousands of young people are expected to demonstrate in favor of gun control.

Youth Activism Resurges In 'March For Our Lives' On Saturday, in events across the country and even around the world, thousands of young people are expected to demonstrate in favor of gun control. (Others will participate in pro-gun-rights counterprotests.) The protest movement was born out of the school shooting that killed 17 people in Parkland, Fla., but one Kentucky high school feels the urgency, too. Weeks before the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a student armed with a handgun entered Marshall County High School in Kentucky. He killed two students, and injured 18 others. As almost always happens, national media attention flared, then faded away. Students here want to make sure that never happens again. 'We Should Have Been The Last' Therese Gachnauer, center, and Kwane Gatlin, right, join fellow students protesting gun violence on the steps of the old Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla.  Mark Wallheiser/AP From Little Rock to Parkland: A Brief History of Youth Activism While this surge of teen organizing around gun control may feel new, the U.S. has a rich history of youth activism. They've banded together for labor rights, broken through segregationist barriers, and demanded proper funding and resources for their schools. Travel Through History LA Johnson/NPR 'It Is A Long Struggle': Advice For Student Activists From Those Who Came Before The large, organized youth effort for gun control comes amid a resurgence of liberal activism. And these teens show no signs of stopping. But we've seen this before. The Sixties, brimming with hippies, anti-war demonstrations and calls for black power, were also a key point for liberalism in the United States. Two protesters from that era offer their advice for keeping young people engaged in a long-lasting political movement, and for keeping participants from falling into frustration and violence. Maintaining A Movement Scout Smissen, a 17-year-old junior at Roosevelt High School becomes emotional while speaking to a crowd of hundreds at Red Square on the University of Washington campus in Seattle.   Megan Farmer /KUOW​ Across The Country, Students Walk Out To Protest Gun Violence Across the country, students walked out of class for 17 minutes on Wednesday, March 14 — one minute for each victim who died at the shooting in Parkland, Fla. Students at some schools went far beyond a walkout, organized marches, letter-writing campaigns and rallies with speakers, taking up part or all of the school day. When Students Walked Out How Schools Are Dealing With Students' Right To Protest Public schools across the country have been grappling for months with how to handle students who choose to protest, starting with athletes who were choosing to mimic NFL players who were taking a knee to protest police brutality. Protesting Is Uncomfortable. Should It Be Easier? To protest, or not to protest? Our Code Switch podcast responds to a question from an African-American high school student in South Florida, who wondered how best to take a stand against injustice.  You received this message because you're subscribed to our Best of NPR emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002