Our Impact, 2018-Today

In March 2018, just weeks after the Parkland shooting, student survivors organized the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C. — one of the largest youth-led protests in American history. Nearly one million people filled the streets of the capital, joined by over 800 sibling marches across the United States and dozens more around the world. The rally electrified a generation, putting gun violence at the center of national politics and showing the world that young people would no longer wait for permission to lead. It marked the birth of a movement that transformed grief into power and demanded a future free from gun violence.

After the March For Our Lives rally, student survivors hit the road to keep the momentum alive. Over the summer of 2018, the Road to Change Tour traveled to more than 80 communities in 24 states, registering tens of thousands of young people to vote and connecting directly with communities most impacted by gun violence. The tour bridged urban and rural divides, built alliances with grassroots organizers across the country, and showed that young people were ready to take their power from the streets to the ballot box.

In 2019, March For Our Lives and Giffords co-hosted the Presidential Primary Gun Safety Forum — one of the first major campaign events focused entirely on gun violence prevention. Nine leading Democratic primary candidates joined for in-depth discussions on gun safety policy, marking a turning point in making gun violence prevention a central issue in national politics.

Four years after our first march, we took to the streets again. In the wake of the Uvalde shooting, tens of thousands of young people rallied in Washington, D.C., joined by more than 450 sibling marches nationwide. It was one of the largest youth-led mobilizations since 2018, channeling heartbreak into anger and action.

That same week, March For Our Lives leaders met with more than 70 members of Congress, including Senate leadership, demanding that lawmakers finally act to save lives. The pressure was undeniable. Just weeks later, Congress passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the first major piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades — with youth voices driving the debate.

Within a day of our 2022 rally in Washington, D.C., Senator Chris Murphy introduced a bipartisan proposal backed by 10 Republicans. Weeks later, it became the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the first federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. The bill expanded background checks for young gun buyers, closed dangerous loopholes, invested in mental health and school safety, and provided unprecedented federal funding for community violence intervention programs.

The BSCA was a direct response to youth pressure and one of the clearest signs yet that young people are reshaping what’s possible in Congress. Since its passage, we’ve continued pushing at the state level, where more than 20 new gun safety laws have been enacted, and we’ve mobilized thousands of young organizers to keep building power for the next fight.

In 2023, after years of relentless pressure from March For Our Lives and our allies, President Biden created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. We were the first national gun violence prevention group to call for such an office back in 2019 — at a time when the idea seemed impossible. Just four years later, that bold demand became reality.

For the first time, the federal government recognized gun violence as a crisis that required a coordinated response at the highest levels. The office placed a senior leader inside the White House, reporting directly to the President, to marshal a holistic strategy that brings together the full power of government to save lives.

This milestone proved what young people have always known: when we demand the impossible, we can make it inevitable.

After the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, we refused to let politics move on as usual. Just one week later, thousands of students across Tennessee walked out of their classrooms and poured into the State Capitol, demanding real action on gun violence. With grief still raw, young people turned it into power — chanting, rallying, and making it impossible for lawmakers to ignore us.

When legislators tried to silence that power by expelling two representatives who stood with us, the backlash only made us stronger. Within days, they were reinstated — proof that when young people rise up together, we can upend politics as usual and force accountability.

After investigating the NRA, we submitted a letter to the New York State Attorney General outlining serious complaints and governance failures that demanded scrutiny. Soon after, the Attorney General launched a full investigation — taking Wayne LaPierre and the NRA to court.

Since then, the NRA has entered a death spiral: millions of members lost, revenue collapsing, and its once untouchable CEO forced to resign in disgrace just before trial. In February 2024, a civil jury found LaPierre liable for corruption.

The gun lobby that claimed “the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun” has finally been exposed for what it is. Thoughts and prayers, NRA.

March For Our Lives has helped drive landmark gun safety legislation in states across the country — proof that young people can win big even when Washington stalls.

In Florida, just weeks after Parkland, students helped push through one of the first major gun safety packages in a deep-red state. Lawmakers raised the age to purchase firearms from 18 to 21, created a red flag law, and instituted a waiting period on gun purchases. It was a breakthrough that showed even in the NRA’s backyard, young people could change what was possible.

In Illinois, MFOL organizers joined more than 100 advocates at the statehouse to push for urgent action. Survivors shared chilling testimony about the stakes, and lawmakers responded by passing the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The law bans assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and rapid-fire switches, strengthens Firearm Restraining Orders, and cracks down on illegal gun trafficking — making Illinois one of just a handful of states with an assault weapons ban.

In Michigan, MFOL activists, alongside survivors of the Oxford and Michigan State shootings, turned grief into action. After vigils, protests, and relentless pressure on the legislature, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the state’s first gun safety package in 40 years, including safe storage, universal background checks, and extreme risk protection orders.

In California, youth activists and MFOL leaders rallied and lobbied lawmakers to demand stronger protections. Within weeks, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 28, creating a $160 million annual funding stream for community violence intervention and holding the gun industry accountable, and SB 2, which raised safety standards for concealed carry permits.

From Florida to Illinois to Michigan to California, young people have shown that sustained pressure, organizing, and bold leadership can make the impossible possible — and save lives.

Since our first march in 2018, March For Our Lives has helped turn out millions of young voters, starting with the 2018 midterms when youth turnout surged to its highest level in a quarter century. That surge was no accident. Parkland activists and MFOL organizers registered tens of thousands of first-time voters on the Road to Change tour, and research shows that young people aligned with the gun violence prevention movement were more than 21 points more likely to vote than their peers. CBS News dubbed it the “Parkland Effect,” as youth turnout swelled across Florida and the nation

Since then, we’ve worked tirelessly to vote out NRA-backed politicians and elect champions for gun safety. In election after election, young voters have shown up in record numbers — often providing the margin of victory in key states and weakening the NRA’s grip on Congress.

Our polls show that March For Our Lives is one of the most trusted messengers for young voters. We’ve reached millions with a clear message: when young people show up, we can change what’s possible on gun safety.