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Norton Joins Students at Walk-Out Rally at Capitol to Demand Common Sense Gun Reform

March 14, 2018

Watch Norton's Full Remarks

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today spoke at a walk-out rally at the U.S. Capitol led by students from across the District of Columbia region to demand Congress take meaningful action to end gun violence.

"I was in the sit-in generation on the front lines of the civil rights movement as a member of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)—but we were college students," Norton said at the rally. "Never, before today, have Americans so young become ‘take charge' activists leading a national movement. Some of you are too young even to vote. But you serve notice today that all of you will soon to be voters all across America. The NRA has met its match."

Norton's full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.

"After 20 six- and seven-year-old kids were shot and killed at Sandy Hook, the elementary school students who survived could not speak for themselves. We remain grateful that the Sandy Hook parents and community continue to fight today.

"Parkland has inspired students too young to work, but old enough to become the first generation to fight for their own lives.

"I was in the sit-in generation on the front lines of the civil rights movement as a member of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which was made up of college students. "Never, before today, have Americans so young become ‘take charge' activists leading a national movement. Some of you are too young even to vote. But you serve notice today that all of you will soon to be voters all across America. The NRA has met its match."

"I am not surprised to see many from schools in the District of Columbia here today. We stand in special solidarity with Parkland. D.C. has to fight the NRA every Congress to defeat a bill to wipe out all of our local gun laws. The sponsor of that bill is led by one of Parkland, Florida's own senators, Marco Rubio. His bill to wipe out all of our gun laws would even repeal our city's ban on assault weapons, like the AR-15, used to kill 17 in Parkland.

"Thank you to the students from across D.C. who walked out today—from Marie Reed, Stuart Hobson, DC Prep, KIPP, Thurgood Marshall, Wilson, Roosevelt, Cardozo, School Without Walls, CHEC, Banneker, Eastern, and too many other schools to name.

"Thank you to all of you, wherever you are from, for the determination of your new generation to do what we before you have failed to do. Americans will win this time because you are leading the new fight for sensible gun control. We are in line behind you. This time, together, we shall succeed."