Student-led demonstrators deliver anti-gun letter to U.S. Embassy in solidarity march

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From high schoolers to the Raging Grannies, hundreds of protestors chanted and carried signs from Parliament Hill to the U.S. Embassy Saturday in solidarity with student-led anti-gun marches around the world.

Edna Rodriguez, 17, one of the organizers of Saturday’s Ottawa March For Our Lives, told the swelling crowd at Major’s Hill Park she had only expected herself and a few dozen friends to show up when she first started spreading word on social media.

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March For Our Lives Ottawa started on Parliament Hill Saturday March 24, 2018, making its way over to Major’s Hill Park. People of Ottawa took to the streets joining with others all over North America to demand lives and safety become a priority and to end gun violence and mass shootings in schools. Lisa Maranta stands on Parliament Hill with a Protect Kids Not Guns sign.


Instead, the high school senior found herself surrounded by around 400 demonstrators as organizers read aloud a letter to U.S. Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft, then delivered the letter to the American Embassy.

“Around the world, we are all doing this for the same reasons – no matter our differences, no matter our international relations – we are all together and united as global citizens and we are the change,” Rodriguez said.

“After seeing how many youths were affected (by the recent Parkland, Florida school shooting) in the United States, I don’t want to go to school in fear, and I don’t want my little brothers to go to school in fear. I don’t want this to happen in Canada. And hearing it happening so close to home, it just hit everyone hard.

“Nothing will be solved overnight, but we are trying to promote change by putting pressure on the U.S. government to start changing their gun legislation. And putting pressure on the U.S. government, it also puts pressure on our own.”

ALSO: SEE THE PHOTOS FROM WASHINGTON D.C.

GALLERY:
'Am I next?': Children, parents gather for massive March For Our Lives rally in Washington


  • A student from Baltimore, Maryland, holds a protest sign during the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • TOPSHOT - People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images


  • WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 24: Protesters gather for the March for Our Lives rally along Pennsylvania Avenue March 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including students, teachers and parents gathered in Washington for the anti-gun violence rally organized by survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School school shooting on February 14 that left 17 dead. More than 800 related events are taking place around the world to call for legislative action to address school safety and gun violence. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971190 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • Students and activists display posters and chant slogans during the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images


  • The crowd at the March for Our Lives Rally as seen from the roof of the Newseum in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 24: Emma Weill-Jones, 9, participates in the March for Our Lives rally on March 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, United States. More than 800 March for Our Lives events, organized by survivors of the Parkland, Florida school shooting on February 14 that left 17 dead, are taking place around the world to call for legislative action to address school safety and gun violence. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images


  • Daisy Hernandez, 22, of Stafford, Va., wrote "Don't Shoot," on her hands during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP


  • People arrive early for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • A woman wears a protest shirt as people arrive early for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 24: Protesters attend the March for Our Lives rally March 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including students, teachers, and parents are expected to gather for the anti-gun violence rally, spurred largely by the shooting that took place on Valentine's Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where 17 people died. Win McNamee/Getty Images


  • Demonstrators gather during the March for Our Lives protest for gun legislation and school safety outside city hall, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. Students and activists in several dozen Ohio communities planned events Saturday in conjunction with a Washington march spearheaded by teens from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where over a dozen people were killed in February. John Minchillo/AP


  • NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Sir Paul McCartney joins thousands of people, many of them students, march against gun violence in Manhattan during the March for Our Lives rally on March 24, 2018 in New York, United States. More than 800 March for Our Lives events, organized by survivors of the Parkland, Florida school shooting on February 14 that left 17 dead, are taking place around the world to call for legislative action to address school safety and gun violence. Spencer Platt/Getty Images


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971120 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • People hold their hands up with messages written on them during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP


  • People hold signs during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP


  • Crowds of people hold signs on Pennsylvania Avenue at the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP


  • People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 24: Students from Centreville, Virginia wear targets on their chests as they arrive for the March for Our Lives rally March 24, 2018 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including students, teachers, and parents are expected to gather for the anti-gun violence rally, spurred largely by the shooting that took place on Valentine's Day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida where 17 people died. Win McNamee/Getty Images


  • Participants arrive prior to the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • TOPSHOT - The March For Our Lives stage sign is seen near the capitol ahead of the anti-gun rally in Washington, DC, on March 23, 2018. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images


  • Participants arrive for the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images


  • Participants arrive for the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. / AFP PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images /AFP/Getty Images


  • Protesters hold signs aloft as they attend the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control in Washington, Saturday, March 24, 2018, on Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol. in Washington. Cliff Owen/AP


  • Demonstrators gather during the March for Our Lives protest for gun legislation and school safety outside city hall, Saturday, March 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. Students and activists in several dozen Ohio communities plan events Saturday in conjunction with a Washington, D.C., march spearheaded by teens from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where 17 people were killed in February. John Minchillo/AP


  • Participants take part in the March for Our Lives Rally in New York on March 24, 2018. Bundled against the cold but fired up with passion after a Florida high school massacre, crowds gathered in Washington on Saturday for what is expected to be the biggest US gun control protest in a generation, with hundreds of thousands attending.The student-organized protest is to feature rallies from coast to coast, with the main event in Washington within sight of the US Capitol -- whose lawmakers the protesters hope to influence. EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images


  • Students and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hold signs during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control in Washington, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Andrew Harnik/AP


  • A student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School holds a sign during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control in Washington, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Andrew Harnik/AP


  • NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Holding pictures of victims killed in gun violence, thousands of people, many of them students, march against gun violence in Manhattan during the March for Our Lives rally on March 24, 2018 in New York City. More than 800 March for Our Lives events, organized by survivors of the Parkland, Florida school shooting on February 14 that left 17 dead, are taking place around the world to call for legislative action to address school safety and gun violence. Spencer Platt/Getty Images


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971562 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971561 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • A student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School holds a sign during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control in Washington, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Andrew Harnik/AP


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971565 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • Participants take part in the March for Our Lives Rally in New York on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971564 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • People arrive early for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • Students and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School hold signs during the "March for Our Lives" rally in support of gun control in Washington, Saturday, March 24, 2018. Andrew Harnik/AP


  • Participants take part in the March for Our Lives Rally in New York on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP/Getty Images


  • People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images


  • TOPSHOT - People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images


  • TOPSHOT - Protestors carry placards and shout slogans during a demonstration calling for greater gun control, outside the US Embassy in south London on March 24, 2018. The London rally, in solidarity with the US movement 'March For Our Lives', is one of hundreds of gun control protests taking place globally. TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images


  • TOPSHOT - People arrive early for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images


  • TOPSHOT - People arrive for the March For Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • March for Our Lives event outside US Embassy, London. Led by young people in over 800 locations around the world, including Sydney, Tokyo, Mumbai, plus hundreds of places in the US, the demonstrators demand that the US Congress pass sweeping legislative change on gun control. Featuring: Atmosphere, View Where: London, United Kingdom When: 24 Mar 2018 Credit: Wheatley/WENN ORG XMIT: wenn33971116 MAAA/ZDS/Wheatley/WENN


  • Rally goers carry protest signs during the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images


  • The crowd at the March for Our Lives Rally as seen from the roof of the Newseum in Washington, DC on March 24, 2018. Galvanized by a massacre at a Florida high school, hundreds of thousands of Americans are expected to take to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday in the biggest protest for gun control in a generation. ALEX EDELMAN/AFP/Getty Images

Rodriguez said while she and fellow students feel relatively safe from gun violence in school – she is a senior at Col. By Secondary School, and will be pursuing studies in public affairs at Carleton University in the fall – she said “Canada is not excused from this.”

“Personally, I feel safe in school because we do have gun laws. However, I don’t want that to change,” she said. “I don’t want to go to school and be scared, I don’t want to know that my teacher has a gun just in case someone is coming in to shoot people. Giving teachers guns is not going to be a solution – fighting fire with fire is not going to get anything solved.

“I don’t want to have to go to school and be scared, and I don’t want future generations to have to go to school and be scared.”

More to come.

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