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'Am I Next?': Students Rally With Powerful Signs Against School Violence

People nationwide called for tighter gun control and background checks.

Armed with only their words and voices, thousands of students passionately poured out of their classrooms and rallied against school violence across the country on Wednesday, with many of them asking, “Am I next?”

Signs held into the air, from Washington, D.C., to Washington state, called for tighter gun control and background checks, while some of the youngest participants waved signs bearing hand-drawn hearts and peace signs in support.

The emotional day marked one month since a lone gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14. That attack and two others, which each happened within the last five months, are among the 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history.

“We’re done taking bullets for Congress,” one sign read.

“My dress code is stricter than the gun laws,” read another.

Check out some of the most powerful signs that students, teachers and parents alike carried during the marches:

Placards urging gun control are seen in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
Marina Fang/HuffPost
Placards urging gun control are seen in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
High school students in La Crescenta, California, take a moment of silence for the victims of last month's shooting in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday.
Kyle Grillot / Reuters
High school students in La Crescenta, California, take a moment of silence for the victims of last month's shooting in Parkland, Florida, on Wednesday.
A sign reading
Joshua Roberts / Reuters
A sign reading
A sign reading
Jim Bourg / Reuters
A sign reading
A student holds a sign reading 'Am I Next?' outside the White House on Wednesday.
Bloomberg via Getty Images
A student holds a sign reading 'Am I Next?' outside the White House on Wednesday.
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