WASHINGTON  – Today, marking one-year since the March for Our Lives youth activists led protests in over 800 locations around the world following the Parkland school shooting, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement:

“Young people across the world are mobilizing, organizing, and calling us to action. In the Massachusetts 7^th, youth activists remind us daily what is at stake, and just how high those stakes are.

“American gun violence stole the lives of nearly 40,000 people in just one year – including 47 children and teenagers every single day.  The March for Our Lives protests against gun violence that occurred one-year ago today was a critical moment in our nation’s history – a moment that served as a reminder that our youth hold a major stake in our democracy and it is our job, as their parents, mentors, and teachers, to listen to them.

“I am so heartened by the youth activists that have joined in solidarity to combat the American public health crisis that is gun violence. I stand with you in this fight and promise to continue to fight for heightened oversight on the gun industry & comprehensive gun violence prevention policies.”

Congresswoman Pressley is a long-standing advocate for families and communities impacted by gun violence and trauma. While serving as a Boston City Councilwoman, she convened the council’s first-ever “listening-only hearing,” where 300 families and survivors of gun violence testified and shared their stories with city officials. Currently, Congresswoman Pressley sits on the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and she voted in support of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Additionally, she cosponsored H.R. 569, the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act, a bipartisan bill that closes the “boyfriend loophole” – making it harder for abusive dating partners to buy firearms.

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