Young people in the US marched against gun violence in their hundreds of thousands, 24.3.18, photo by Boston Socialist Alernative

Young people in the US marched against gun violence in their hundreds of thousands, 24.3.18, photo by Boston Socialist Alernative   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Mass demonstrations took place in US cities and even internationally on 24 March to demand gun control. This was an uprising by school students demanding gun control following the massacre of 17 pupils in Parkland, Florida the previous month.

These huge demonstrations, following the million-strong student walkouts on 17 March, have forced a shift in public opinion and put the previously untouchable pro-Trump National Rifle Association lobby on the back foot.

Trump, however, showed his contempt of the Parkland student survivors – who last month had an audience with president – by hanging out at his exclusive golf course in Florida during the marches.

Socialist Alternative members (co-thinkers of the Socialist Party) in many US cities played a key role in mobilising turnouts for both 17 and 24 March events.