Toronto may have not been the epicentre in the "March for Our Lives" rallies held globally Saturday, but there were some impactful statements from those who attended.
For one female student, the rally was an opportunity not only to have her voice heard, but also to support fellow students and in her case friends south of the border.
"We have friends in Florida, we have friends who went to MSD (Marjory Stoneman Douglas) we have friends in Maryland we have friends in Alabama. It's scary to wake up every morning and say like my friends may have an active shooter in their school today, that is a possibility. "
Among the estimated six to seven hundred people who attended the Toronto rally, that began at City Hall and ended up at Queen's Park, were some students who survived the February 14th mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida.
A female student chose not to giver her name to media when she spoke. Her reasoning?
"Today I have come to Toronto, I have come to the march as anonimous because today I don't represent myself I represent my school. This isn't my battle alone this is the entire community's. "
A male, also from MSD, believes the marches world wide can be the starting point to not only ignite some awareness, but also much needed change.
" We're the generation who wants to do something. We want to make this movement happen. We want to end gun violence in the United States and Canada all across the world. And we will stand for our rights and stand for everyone's rights until it happens."
Toronto mayor John Tory tweeted out his support for the global movement and assured Toronto residents of his commitment in trying to minimize gun violence in the city.
"I remain committed to updating & strengthening Canadian gun laws so we can get guns off Toronto’s streets & keep them out of the hands of criminals."
To those taking part in the #MarchForOurLives here in Toronto, in other Canadian cities & the U.S., thank you for your advocacy. I remain committed to updating & strengthening Canadian gun laws so we can get guns off Toronto’s streets & keep them out of the hands of criminals.
— John Tory (@JohnTory) March 24, 2018
Toronto was one of approximately 800 cities world wide that were inolved in the "March for Our Lives" rally for gun control. The main rally occured in Washington D.C. where an estimated half a million people turned out.