WASHINGTON, May 14 -- Hundreds of thousands people walked the Washington Mall Sunday in support of tighter gun-control laws.
A magnificent spring day greeted marchers as they gathered near the Washington Monument and proceeded toward the U.S. Capitol where organizers had placed their speakers' podium. The common message from the stage was for "sensible gun laws" and a berating of the National Rifle Association.
A crowd of 150,000 had been expected but organizers said about 750,000 people attended the Million Mom March. Objective crowd estimates were somewhat lower, although all agreed it was the largest gun-control demonstration ever. The Washington event was one of more than 50 similar protests carried out across the country Sunday.
Speakers included many people who had family members killed or wounded by gunshots.
Patricia Anderson, from Albuquerque, N.M., according to the Washington Post, told the crowd: "I stand here without any written words. I stand here before you, talking to you from my heart. Mothers, we have shed tears for our children. Let's make out tears a rivera raging river of voted (to) get out legislators out of office if they do not want stricter gun controls."
The march had its lighter side, with a fair-like children's village where clowns entertained, but the mood was tempered by the constant reminders, such as the wall on which the names of 4,000 people killed in gun violence were listed, of gun deaths.
Among several members of Congress in attendance -- but one of the few Republicans -- was Connie Morella, who represents a Maryland district that abuts Washington, D.C. Referring to the potential for the Million Mom March to make a difference among legislators, she told the Post, "Only if we follow through on it. Realistically, it's got to start tomorrow."
Organizer Donna Dees-Thomases told the Washington Post she had registered the name "Million Mom March" and planned to turn it into a privately funded organizing to lobby for stricter gun laws.
Near the Mall the Second Amendment Sisters staged a counter demonstration which attracted hundreds of people asking that the right to bear arms be protected.
Both demonstrations were peaceful, with only some minor baiting between groups reported.NEWLN:
