Today, millions of people around the world are tuning in to celebrate the opening day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s a moment meant for joy, unity, and community.
But here at March For Our Lives, we’re forced to look at a completely different, heartbreaking reality.
Just days ago in Toledo, Ohio, families gathered for the Old West End Festival — a beautiful, historic kickoff to the summer season filled with live music, food trucks, and art. Instead of making memories, festivalgoers were forced to hit the deck, dodging a rapid burst of gunfire and running for cover. Twelve people were wounded, with victims as young as 14 years old.
A community celebration, a graduation, or a neighborhood space has been unraveled by a distinctly American pattern of violence 170 times this year.
We’ve spent years being angry, Kendall. We are tired of the politicians who shrug their shoulders and accept this bloodshed as the price of a free society. But we refuse to let grief freeze us in place.
March For Our Lives was founded by youth, run by youth, and built on the radical belief that our generation can — and will — end this crisis. We know that top-down politics isn’t enough. True change requires a massive, grassroots culture shift around guns. We are actively training the next generation of high school and college activists, giving them the tools and resources to dismantle the power of gun manufacturers and corporate lobbyists who profit off our fear.
Summer festivals, neighborhood parks, and school hallways should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear. We are choosing hope, education, and relentless action over compliance.
Thank you for refusing to look away,
March For Our Lives
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Email us: info@marchforourlives.com