About 150 demonstrators protested outside the American Embassy in Dublin on Saturday in support of the ant-gun March for Our Lives rallies taking place across the U.S.
The protesters chanted “enough is enough” and, at one point, held a moment of silence for victims of gun violence, The Irish Times reports.
The crowd included several Americans living in Ireland.
Mary Farley,who moved to Ireland seven months ago with her husband and two children, was one of the organizers of the protest.
Read More: The kids are all right - NRA beware the Risen People!
“It’s really important to show the United States that the world is watching. We are going to put global pressure on this issue, not just national pressure.
“Ms Farley and the Irish branch of Moms Demand Action will hold a rally in support of March for Our Lives at the US embassy in Dublin this Saturday.” https://t.co/Q9h994H8PO
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 23, 2018
“The kids that are here don’t have to endure the intruder drills and lockdown drills that American children do. To see my children going to school here and see them feeling safe is so wonderful. We really want that for American children, to feel safe in school.”
One of the protesters, is 23-year-old Lily Horn, from Connecticut, who has been living in Dublin for the last six months.
“It’s really easy to be detached from home while you’re here but I think this is a great way for everybody to come together and focus on the problems at home. I’m hoping movements like this will finally create change.
“I feel safer here than I do back home”. #MarchForOurLives Dublin pic.twitter.com/N9hdJ4eBDu
— Richard Chambers🎙 (@newschambers) March 24, 2018
“When I was in school we had lockdown drills, where you teach kids to hide under a desk if there’s an armed shooter in your school. It’s so interesting talking to young people here because that is not something they can relate to.”
John Lawlor, 67, from Balinteer, told the Irish Times: “I just think gun law in the States is crazy.”
“I think people need to show that it’s just not acceptable. It’s the only country that has this kind of mentality. I wanted to show solidarity.
March for our Lives Dublin - protect children not the NRA #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/ZaPMGq7hOc
— Ciara B (@ciara_of_course) March 24, 2018
“I don’t know how it’s going to be changed but I think even a small demonstration like this, just to show that this is not the norm and we’re not going to normalize it.”
Christine Lacey, 65, who is originally from San Francisco but has lived in Ireland for the last 20 years, said: “What’s happening in the US at the moment is a little overwhelming and scary. It’s great living in Ireland but I think it’s great to support what’s going on over there and help any way that we can.
“The fact that we’re presenting a united front all over the world, should hopefully carry some weight.
Read More: March for our Lives: Ireland joins protests to end American gun violence
“I taught in the States and we used to do those lockdown practices, now one of the solutions being put forward is to give teachers a gun. Putting a gun anywhere near a classroom is just absolutely abhorrent to me.”
Comments