Jayapal, student organizers hosting March For Our Lives town hall

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal will join student organizers the Saturday before the Seattle March for Our Lives to discuss the movement to end gun violence during a town hall at Garfield High School.

Seattle is one of many cities holding sister marches in solidarity with the Washington, D.C. March For Our Lives demonstration being organized by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and New York-based nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety.

A gunman killed 17 students and staff at the Parkland, Florida high school and wounded 17 more on Feb. 14 with an AR-15 rifle. Many students immediately began organizing; demanding lawmakers in Tallahassee and D.C. adopt stricter gun control laws.

The Washington Legislature passed a ban on bump stocks this last session, requiring residents to turn over the devices that can make a semiautomatic weapon fire like an automatic.

Jayapal’s office reports a town hall 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, will involve discussions about ending gun violence and engaging many voices. The town hall takes place in the Quincy Jones Auditorium at Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave.

“Gun violence has traumatized our communities for far too long. As we mourn the loss of lives from Parkland, Florida to our very own state of Washington, we are tired of sending prayers and thoughts,” the news release states. “Youth across the country are leading the call to address gun violence on all levels, particularly as it affects young people and our most marginalized communities.”

March For Our Lives Seattle starts 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at Cal Anderson Park, and ends at Key Arena.