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Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets Saturday to join the March for Our Lives, a massive nationwide-and now worldwide -protest that was organized in part by the teenage survivors of the the Parkland school shooting earlier this year. After 17 people were murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students responded by launching an unprecedented activist effort to call for strengthened background checks, new restrictions on who can obtain a gun, and an all-out ban on assault-style weapons, such as the AR-15 rifle that was used to kill their classmates.

The central focus of the marches was the protest in Washington, D.C., near the Capitol Building, where huge crowds gathered to hear from young student activists and to call for change. The speeches were interspersed with a recurring chant from the crowd, aimed at any lawmakers who fail to hear their message: "Vote them out."

Protesters brought signs illustrating the various ways they say Congress has failed to strengthen gun control compared to the stricter policies it has established with other legislation.

Countless celebrities came out in support, including Paul McCartney, Laura Dern, Miley Cyrus, and newly announced New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon.

McCartney told CNN that he was marching because fellow Beatle John Lennon was lost to gun violence in 1980. "This is what we can do," he said, "so I'm here to do it."

In Washington, Parkland student Cameron Kasky read a list of names of the 17 classmates and teachers who died in the school shooting, ending with Nicholas Dworet, who would have been 18 years old on Saturday.

"Nicholas, we are all here for you," Kasky said. "Happy birthday."

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Hundreds of Thousands March for Gun Control in Protests Across the Country

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Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets Saturday to join the March for Our Lives, a massive nationwide-and now worldwide -protest that was organized in part by the teenage survivors of the the Parkland school shooting earlier this year.

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The St. Paul school board is joining students in pushing for gun control in the wake of the Valentine's Day killing of 17 people at a Florida high school.

Police estimate about 2,000 marchers and more than 5,000 people were rallying Wednesday at the Capitol building, where lawmakers are weighing multiple gun and school safety proposals. Students from public and private schools are taking part.

"What do we want?" "Gun control!" "When do we want it?" "Now!" High schoolers chant as they march toward the Minnesota capitol pic.twitter.com/ejn5jB88UI

- S. M. Chavey (@sarah_chavey) March 7, 2018

Organizers are calling the event the "March for Our Lives." They're asking state lawmakers to make guns less accessible.

St. Paul police warned that starting at 10 a.m., drivers might see delays on John Ireland Boulevard and Hamline, Randolph, Marshall and Selby avenues as students are marching. Police said traffic will be diverted and asked drivers to consider alternative routes.

Meanwhile, the St. Paul school board is preparing to vote March 20 on a resolution calling for stricter limits on gun access and greater investment in school safety.

A draft of the resolution states "many of these lives could be saved with common-sense laws that prevent gun violence - without taking away the Second Amendment rights of responsible gun owners."

The resolution calls for: wider gun-free zones around schools; keeping guns away from people who "post a threat to themselves or others"; tougher background checks; money for school safety planning, school climate initiatives and school building improvements; money for school counselors, psychologists and social workers; and better data collection on gun violence.

It also says the board opposes proposals to arm teachers or school staff.

Board member Steve Marchese said members aren't interested in making recommendations around banning certain types of weapons or accessories, such as bump stocks.

Superintendent Joe Gothard said it's striking to see students and schools working together to press lawmakers into action.

"I think it has all of us ... listening very carefully what our students have to say," he said.

St. Paul district students will not face school discipline for participating in the protests, and they can have their absences excused with a note from their parents. However, schools are warning parents that the schools are no longer responsible for supervising students once they leave school grounds.

A 17-minute nationwide protest is planned for March 14. Because it's relatively short, St. Paul school officials will treat that event like a school function, supervising students who participate and providing alternative activities for others.

Asked whether the St. Paul district is endorsing the protests, Gothard said, "it's hard not to."

"Our kids are saying, 'We need to be heard,'" he said.
Mara H. Gottfried contributed to this report.

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St. Paul students stage walkout, march to Capitol as lawmakers mull gun, school-safety proposals

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The St. Paul school board is joining students in pushing for gun control in the wake of the Valentine's Day killing of 17 people at a Florida high school. Police estimate about 2,000 marchers and more than 5,000 people were rallying Wednesday at the Capitol building, where lawmakers are weighing multiple gun and school safety proposals.

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Florida student to NRA and Trump: 'We call BS'

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Only with gun violence do we respond to repeated tragedies by saying that mourning is acceptable but discussing how to prevent more tragedies is not. But that's unacceptable. As others have observed, talking about how to stop mass shootings in the aftermath of a string of mass shootings isn't 'too soon.'

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Photos: Aftermath of the Florida massacre, deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history | The Star

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Tributes are pouring in and people are mourning for victims of the mass shooting at LGBT Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

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Couple who were killed in Orlando planned to marry - now they're having a joint funeral Homophobic terrorist Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire in Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida and killed 49 people.

Police in many areas have promised heightened security for LGBT events, as the Orlando shooting comes during Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.

As a show of solidarity to the LGBT community following the worst mass shooting in recent US history, cities across the world came out to sing, hold hands and support the #LoveWins philosophy.

New York

Thousands crowded the streets around the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan where large-scale gay rights activism got its start in 1969.

Under banners heralding the upcoming Pride Week and calling for peace, people held hands and shared embraces.

Some waved rainbow flags and others carried signs showing support for Orlando.

Spectators watched from fire escapes and windows of nearby apartment buildings as chants of 'love beats hate' rang from the crowd.

Florida

In the city where the shooting happened, thousands of people gathered to support both victims and survivors.

Many in the crowd in central Orlando said they were inspired to attend because the Pulse nightclub, where the massacre occurred, played a huge role in their lives as gays and lesbians.

'Pulse gave me confidence, made me realise I was normal and so much like everyone else,' said Cathleen Daus, a former employee at the club.

The vigil was held on the lawn of the Dr Phillips Centre, the area's main performing arts venue.

It is also the location of a makeshift memorial where people have been leaving flowers, candles and notes for the victims.

Australia

Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up in rainbow colours on Monday as hundreds gathered in the Australian city to hold a vigil for the victims of a massacre at a gay nightclub.

UK

Thousands of Brits paid tributes to the Orlando terror attack victims. Crowds gathered in London's Soho - the hub of the capital's bustling LGBT community.

Mourners on Old Compton Street released 49 balloons - one for each of the innocents slain by homophobic murderer Mateen.

France

The Eiffel Tower was lit up in colours from the rainbow flag for a memorial service in Paris.
Picture credit: Imgur.
With the pain of the Paris attacks still raw, crowds gathered at the famous landmark in a reciprocation of the solidarity and respect the world showed following the atrocities in November.

At least 49 people were killed and 53 were wounded at the Pulse nightclub on Sunday.

The Orlando attack is considered to be the worst mass shooting in recent U.S. history.

MORE: Orlando gunman's dad says 'bad security' was to blame for 49 murders

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Orlando tributes: Most powerful images as world mourns 49 killed in LGBT club

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Couple who were killed in Orlando planned to marry - now they're having a joint funeral Homophobic terrorist Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire in Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida and killed 49 people. Police in many areas have promised heightened security for LGBT events, as the Orlando shooting comes during Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.

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Messages for Sandy Hook Victims Flood Twitter

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Terrence J, Oprah, Cory Booker and others expressed grief in the wake of the the mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school on Friday.

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Orlando Shooting | Worst Mass Shooting in US History

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In the hours following a horrific school shooting in Parkland, Fla., several high-profile lawmakers took to Twitter to offer their condolences to those affected by the shooting.

FULL COVERAGE: At least 17 reported deaths in Florida school shooting

A number of Democrats took it a step further by calling for gun-control legislation.

"This is the 18th school shooting in the first 43 days of 2018," California Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted. ​"We cannot accept this as normal. We must address gun violence."

California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom was particularly aggressive, as he retweeted Republicans offering condolences and commented, "Then do something about it."

MORE COVERAGE: Florida high school shooter identified

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to call for congressional action on gun violence.

"This happens nowhere else other than the United States of America," Murhpy said. "This epidemic of mass slaughter, this scourge of school shooting after school shooting, it only happens here not because of coincidence, not because of bad luck, but as a consequence of our inaction."
Click through the slideshow above to see how politicians are reacting to the shooting.

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Politicians tweet condolences, Dems call for gun control in wake of Florida shooting

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In the hours following a horrific school shooting in Parkland, Fla., several high-profile lawmakers took to Twitter to offer their condolences to those affected by the shooting. A number of Democrats took it a step further by calling for gun control legislation.