Florida shooting survivors rally for stricter gun controls

February 22, 2018 00:16

Survivors of a Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead have marched to the state capitol to press lawmakers to take more action on gun control.

One student said she was disappointed in meetings with lawmakers, who "danced around" their questions on gun control.

It is the first organised protest of the youth-led anti-gun movement that has swept the US since the attack.

Thousands of Florida students walked out of their classrooms in solidarity with survivors.

"We came here prepared, and we are going to come to every single meeting with every single legislator prepared. We know what we want. We want gun reform. We want common sense gun laws," Delaney Tarr said.

Students chanted "protect our kids" and carried banners with the words "never again" emblazoned across them as they protested outside Florida's capitol in Tallahassee. The teenagers were also joined by students from two universities in Florida.

"Today instead of returning to our studies, instead of preparing for exams and instead of grieving for dead classmates and teachers, we are out here advocating for a change," Florida survivor Florence Yared said.

US President Donald Trump is set to host students and teachers at the White House on Wednesday for a "listening session" on gun control.

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