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DPS estimates 15,000 attended Phoenix March For Our Lives event

Thousands expected at PHX gun violence march
Posted at 10:30 AM, Mar 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-03-25 22:50:44-04

The Arizona Department of Public Safety estimates that 15,000 people attended the March For Our Lives gun-control rally at the state Capitol in Phoenix. 

The crowd attending the event organized by high school students heard about an hour of speeches before setting out on a march to and from a point about halfway from the Capitol to the heart of downtown Phoenix.  

Two of the student organizers of the event opened it by urging young people to register to vote and boot out officeholders who won't act.  

Other students in attendance like Kaleb Juchau, from the Tolleson School District, said it's time for a change.  

“We’re ready for a change, we’re ready for a compromise, we’re ready for a bill, we’re ready for something to happen in this country,” said Juchau. “It’s sickening this has become so normalized in our schools that it hurts!”  

Other student activists at the event told ABC15 the time to take action is now.  

“What if it was your child, your grandchild, your sister, your brother? What if it was you?” said 13-year-old Julia Lange. “Our leaders are really acting like children, they’re being irresponsible, and they’re really not doing anything to help the gun situation in this country.”  

About two-dozen gun-rights supporters staged a counter-protest in the midst of the larger gathering. They held flags and sometimes challenged March For Our Lives participants to debate gun issues.

According to DPS, there were no arrests made or disruptions.