Influential youth gun reform group March for Our Lives has given Vice President Kamala Harris its first presidential endorsement.
March for Our Lives issued a statement:
March for Our Lives is pleased to support Kamala Harris for President of the United States. This is our first endorsement and the stakes couldn’t be higher. As one of the largest youth leadership movements in the country, we are acutely aware of the challenges ahead, and we believe Kamala Harris is uniquely qualified to meet this moment.
The country that young people are about to inherit stands on the edge of a precipice—on the one hand, authoritarianism threatens our fundamental rights, including our right to live freely without fear of gun violence; Including our right to live freely without fear of gun violence; on the other hand, we can continue to fight to build the future that young people know we deserve. We need a passionate defender of democracy, a gun violence prevention advocate, and a leader who can listen to young people, give us a seat at the table, and fight for our future. We believe Kamala Harris is that candidate and the right person to stand up for us and fight for the country we deserve.
Young people are inheriting an increasingly unstable world, as gun violence remains the leading cause of death among young people for the third year in a row, the war in Gaza continues to rage, the climate crisis escalates, and far-right politicians are pushing for one of the most extreme policies in our country’s history agenda. We’ve been struggling to get excited about voting in this election and increasingly pessimistic about the possibility of change. But we know that a re-election of Trump as president is simply not an option that young people can afford—our lives are literally at risk. Kamala Harris has a difficult task — to build a movement that boldly paints a picture of a future we can believe in. A weapons ban, action on climate change, a strong defense of abortion, court reform, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Young people are savvy voters who will see through empty promises and cynical bargains. We believe Kamala will rise above this and fight for a bold, progressive future—and we will hold her accountable for it.
Throughout her tenure in Washington, D.C., first as a senator and then as vice president, she has been a strong advocate for gun safety and young people. At our 2020 Presidential Gun Safety Forum with friends at Giffords, Vice President Harris outlined a bold plan to address gun violence from every angle—demanding action from Congress and using the power of the President to fight for us fight for their lives. Since becoming Vice President, she has met regularly with gun violence advocates and survivors, and we are pleased to work with her as she leads the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Importantly, Vice President Harris has put survivors of gun violence at the center of policymaking, demonstrating her commitment to helping those most affected by this problem implement the right solutions. As she begins her campaign for president, we look forward to working with her to develop a comprehensive plan to combat gun violence that focuses on a holistic and preventive approach.
The nation is witnessing a large and successful Democratic coalition unite and mobilize behind Vice President Harris. If all these allies stand together, they will be more powerful than Trump and Make America Great Again.
Most Americans are publicly saying they don’t want Plan 2025. The tyranny of the few that Trump seeks to impose by overturning democracy is facing rejection.
Young people understand this moment, now they have a candidate they are excited about, a future they can believe in.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of Society of Professional Journalists and American Political Science Association
