LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:
Those who gathered yesterday in Washington, D.C., for the March for Our Lives and millions of others watching around the globe heard impassioned speeches by children and teenagers talking about gun violence. Among them, students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Emma Gonzalez is a senior there, and she's become one of the most visible faces of this movement.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: (Chanting) Emma, Emma, Emma.
EMMA GONZALEZ: Six minutes and about 20 seconds. In a little over six minutes, 17 of our friends were taken from us. Fifteen were injured. And everyone - absolutely everyone - in the Douglas Community was forever altered. Everyone who was there understands. Everyone who has been touched by the cold grip of gun violence understands.
Six minutes and 20 seconds with an AR-15, and my friend Carmen would never complain to me about piano practice. Aaron Feis would never call Kyra (ph) Miss Sunshine. Alex Schachter would never walk into school with his brother Ryan. Scott Beigel would never joke around with Cameron (ph) at camp. Helena Ramsay would never hang out after school with Max (ph) Gina Montalto would never wave to her friend Liam (ph) at lunch. Joaquin Oliver would never play basketball with Sam (ph) or Dylan (ph). Alaina Petty would never. Cara Loughran would never. Chris Hixon would never. Luke Hoyer would never. Martin Duque Anguiano would never. Peter Wang would never. Alyssa Alhadeff would never. Jamie Guttenberg would never. Meadow Pollack would never.
GARCIA-NAVARRO: And then she stood at the podium silently, with tears streaming down her face for many long minutes.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
GONZALEZ: Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds. The shooter has ceased shooting and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape and walk free for an hour before arrest. Fight for your lives before it's someone else's job.
(CHEERING)
GARCIA-NAVARRO: That was Emma Gonzalez, a student and survivor of the Parkland, Fla., shooting, speaking yesterday at the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.