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LI students to join thousands nationwide in March For Our Lives protests

<p>Long Island students&nbsp;will be among the hundreds of thousands taking part in Saturday&rsquo;s &quot;March For Our Lives&quot; protests against gun violence.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 23, 2018, 9:39 AM

Updated 2,430 days ago

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Long Island students are getting ready to rally for change in the wake of the Parkland school massacre.
They will be among the hundreds of thousands taking part in Saturday’s "March For Our Lives" protests against gun violence. There are hundreds of rallies taking place across the country Saturday.
Hicksville High School students were preparing Friday for a rally at SUNY Farmingdale. Others will be marching in Huntington, and some Long Island students are taking their message to Washington, D.C.

“It's incredibly important that we implement gun control that’s effective and that doesn't dance around the issue,” said 11th-grader Merh Sharma.

“We can create a bipartisan movement to stop gun violence in America. It doesn't have to be an issue that divides us, rather it should be something we could all come together and agree upon,” said 12th-grader Ryan Wozlonis.

Rep. Tom Suozzi stopped by to show the Hicksville students support.

“It’s not going to change unless the adults and the leadership of Congress recognize that we need to change the laws and try to reduce the gun violence in our country,” said Suozzi. “That’s why we need these young people with their energy and idealism to push for this common-sense gun reform.”
The Hicksville students will be at Farmingdale State College for the rally at 11 a.m. Reps. Tom Suozzi, Peter King and Kathleen Rice will all be at that event to show support.

Mandy Wagnac and 30 other Westbury High School students will be leaving Saturday morning for the rally in D.C.

“This is the only time,” said Wagnac. “If we don't do it now, when are we ever going to do it?”

Senior Isabel Abarca not only wants to speak out about gun violence but also mental health and bullying.

“We need to be united as a front, and we need to include everybody, and everybody needs to feel like that they are welcomed and that they’re loved and that whatever they're going through we are here for them,” says Abarca.