Teacher, students join gun protest
April 24, 2018
Following the lead of students across the country, Diamond Bar High School staff and students took to the streets on March 24, demanding to have their voice heard on the issue of gun control.
Physics teacher Angela Jensvold and seniors Violet Huang and Michelle Shen marched alongside hundreds of thousands of protesters in Los Angeles in the March for Our Lives.
Inspired by students directly affected by the Florida shooting and teenagers across the country taking a stand on the controversial issue, Jensvold has been vocal about bringing her passion and frustration to a larger platform. With one friend teaching at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and another teaching in Newtown, Connecticut, Jensvold said that she feels the urgency to voice her opinion on the matter in hope of persuading politicians into banning assault rifles.
“Sandy Hook was the first shooting that really hit home, and I was devastated by that, but after this last shooting, I’m no longer sad—I’m furious. I’m furious that [Congress] has done nothing to protect us and that we’re not safe in a place that I consider to be sacred: my classroom,” Jensvold said.
Huang chose to attend the event after witnessing the passion from students on DBHS campus. After seeing the student-planned walkout on March 14, Huang looked further into the issue of gun control and decided to participate in the March 24 protest with her friend Shen, who also feels strongly about the issue. Shen said that she feels frustrated at some of the solutions that politicians were proposing, and wants to let them know that people do not agree.
“It’s important that we show our support for the policies that can prevent what happened at those schools. I felt really powerful to be in support of the speakers there,” Huang said.
The protest began at Broadway and Eighth Street in downtown L.A. with speeches by students and local politicians, including L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“The current lack government policies is ridiculous,” Shen said. “If we don’t do something now, I can’t imagine how much worse the problem will get in the future. I think I’m scared of what could happen if I don’t say something. Going to the march was an opportunity to speak out.”
Jensvold said that she was not just inspired, but deeply moved by the actions of children such as 11-year-old Naomi Wadler, who spoke up about the lives of African American women lost to gun violence. Jensvold also expressed support for students on the DBHS campus who spoke out and participated in events such as the Mar. 14 walkout.
“In the past, I thought that it didn’t make much of a difference to speak out. But now, I feel if children can get off their butts and speak out, then certainly I can do more than that,” Jensvold said. “I’ve been attending marches and protests my whole life, but it was the kids that inspired this one.
It made me feel better to know that I am not the only one who has had enough.”
As this was their first time going to a political protest, Shen and Huang said that they were both surprised by the number of and the fiery passion of the participants.
“Being around a passionate group of people allowed me to express my feelings freely along with other people who feel the same way I do,” Shen said.
All three stressed the necessity of placing pressure on lawmakers and politicians to make a change to keep the issue alive. They plan to continue attending these types of events and constantly staying in support of the issue.
“The government is supposed to reflect the opinion of the people they’re in charge of. By letting them hear our voice during these types of protests, it’s an opportunity to have the government hear us and change their policies,” Shen said.
Jensvold has taken another step in demanding change from those in authority.
“I’ve called both my senators, my congresswomen, my state senators and even my state assembly members just begging them to do something,” Jensvold said.
Other than staying on the phone, Jensvold has also resolved to only shop in places that refuse to support the NRA financially and encouraged students to pre-register to vote, as well as donate and campaign for politicians they support.
“We have to figure out if children have the right to stay safe in our classrooms. That’s what this issue is about,” Jensvold said.