Yolanda, 9, Martin Luther King Jrs grandchild joins gun protest in US
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afp25 yolanda renee king the nine-year-old granddaughter of civil rights icon martin luther king jr. brought many to tears on saturday with a surprise appearance at the washington d.c rally by american students calling for gun control from congress and president donald trump1 i have a dream that enough is enough she said referencing her grandfathers famous 1963 i have a dream speech on ending racism1 and that this should be a gun-free world period1 watch yolanda speak1 martin luther king jr.s granddaughter yolanda renee king speaking at the march for our lives in washington d.c1 democracy now @democracynow1 demanding action on gun control from lawmakers more than one million americans turned out for emotional nationwide protests on saturday fuelled by teenagers at a florida high school where 17 people were shot dead last month1 politicians either represent the people or get out cameron kasky a 17-year-old from marjory stoneman douglas high school in parkland florida told the crowd at a huge rally in washington1 stand for us or beware the voters are coming said kasky one of the leaders of a dynamic and passionate student movement which has emerged following the february 14 shooting at his school1 large crowds also turned out for demonstrations in atlanta boston chicago dallas denver los angeles miami minneapolis seattle and other cities more than 800 in all according to the organizers of the march for our lives1 mayor bill de blasio said 175000 people took part at the new york rally tweeting these students will change america1 but the largest protest was in washington where organizers told nbc news the crowd was estimated at more than 800000 people the largest gun control rally in the united states since the million mom march in 20001 the main stage for the event in washington was set up near the us capitol and lawmakers were the target audience as speakers delivered blistering warnings that the time has come for stricter gun laws1 my grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character yolanda told a rapt crowd1 the people demand we prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines. the people demand universal background checks1 we are going to take this to every election to every state and every city said another stoneman douglas student leader david hogg1 march organisers included a link for people to register to vote on their marchforourlives.com website as they seek to transform their nascent movement into a potent political force1 signs carried by protestors lambasted lawmakers who oppose tougher laws and the national rifle association nra the powerful us gun lobby1 these kids are right said jeff turchin a 68-year-old retired garment manufacturer who came to washington from new york to attend the rally1 theyre basically saying the nra is paying off these republicans turchin said of the party of president donald trump which controls the senate and house of representatives1 the washington rally kicked off with andra day singing rise up and also featured a performances by jennifer hudson whose mother brother and seven-year-old nephew were shot dead in 20081 holding a poster reading never again the slogan for the march miley cyrus performed the song the climb1 but the most riveting appearances were by the stoneman douglas students1 emma gonzalez 17 took the stage wearing a green military-style jacket and ripped jeans and delivered a eulogy for the 14 students and three adults slain by 19-year-old gunman nikolas cruz1 tears rolling down her face she then stood in silence at the podium for a full four and half minutes as the crowd fidgeted and some cried out were with you emma1 since the time that i came out here it has been six minutes and 20 seconds gonzalez finally said the exact amount of time cruz spent spraying bullets inside her school before fleeing1 fight for your lives before its someone elses job gonzalez said. get out there and vote1 the people demand a law banning the sale of assault weapons kasky said1