Pictures of Protest

At the Westcott Building at FSU, Mayor Andrew Gillum welcomes visitors to Tallahassee for the Never Again protest in February by giving a speech and then helping to lead the march towards the Capitol Building. By doing this, Gillum puts himself in alignment with the student protestors and represents Tallahassee and his political views - this may be a political strategy for him, as many activists and advocates switch between activism and political work throughout the course of their personal biographies. 

- Kristina, Victoria, Jenny, Katie, Erin, and Courtney

Sign: “Let’s rename ‘school’ to ‘uterus’ so maybe Republican lawmakers will want to do something about the children dying inside of them. @nw313″

This photo captures a connection between two movements - when women’s rights meet gun control. This sign is attention-grabbing, and one might say it brings a dark sense of humor to a serious, emotional topic. This tactic can create tension between the pro-life and pro-gun movement, which are both generally conservative movements. However, those affiliated with the pro-choice movement may find this sign problematic, as the pro-choice movement does not define a fetus as a child or abortion as death.

- Ruth, Ciara, Elizabeth, and Majo

A young woman proudly protests in front of the capital with a sign reading “#NEVERAGAIN” – a hashtag that has been flooding social media platforms following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting on February 14th. Hashtags help flag attention, become mantras for movements, and help frame the identities and emotions of social movements. 

- John

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AREN’T ENOUGH!

The same public reaction from the government that has been used after every mass shooting, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and those affected”. While this may be sincere, it does nothing to enact change or reform policy to prevent future massacres.  

In order to make social change, individuals and organizations have to work together and take action.

- John

John (left) and Sean (right), two students of Florida State University, hold up homemade signs protesting gun violence. On the left, the sign adopts a diagnostic frame, acknowledging that the AR-15 was the designated weapon used for mass murders. The sign on the right is calling out the enablers who are responsible for knocking down legislation to reduce gun violence.

Diagnostic framing: How do we frame the problem?

In among the thousands who gathered outside the State Capital Building today one key message rang clear, “Are we next?”

But the question really isn’t so much a question of WHO will be next but rather WHEN. We need to find HOW we will change this tragic future.

- John

Participant observation: While one doesn’t necessarily need to take a stand and have a strong voice of opinion about the matter but simply showing up to a social movement without signs shows one is in support of making a change. This picture is of me, an audience member of the social movement. This sign I’m holding is one my friends made. While I may not agree that all guns should be banned, I do agree that we need to input some level of control and restrictions on the purchasing of a rifle. While many emotions of social movements can range from sad to mad, there can also be a happy and hopeful side as well: when we look at the outcome of individuals showing up in an effort to make a change for the greater good.
-Nichole

In this photo majority of the social movement actors are students. I observed not just college students, but students of all ages from elementary school to college students from FAMU, TCC, and most of all FSU. All public schools in Leon County were closed today in support of the march! The emotions of students were filled with passions for their right to feel safe to simply walk on school grounds without fear that another student may have a gun in their backpack and your life be lost in a matter of seconds. What was significant to me is the fact that college students at FSU, unfortunately, were not released from classes today, but hundreds still found time in their day to walk over to the Capitol Building and show support.
- Nichole

The word “enough” is used multiple times in this image in protest signs, which represents the emotion of frustration and the need to make this a protest that ends mass shootings through legislature.
- Nicole Blonsick

The protest march ends at the Capitol Building, where people meet to rally and hear discussions and speeches about the importance of ending gun violence. Many students expressed that they want the government to protect them and not guns. 

- Jordan

People can be seen marching for blocks on College Ave. There was an insane amount of people in this protest and it brought chills to to me how meaningful this protest was. To be there in the moment as a participant observer was unreal. 

- Jordan

A local business posts signs on their door that showcase strength and solidarity: #DouglasStrong and “We Stand with Douglas.” Seeking solidarity and providing solidarity is one of the key motivations for participation in social movements.

- Jordan

A couple walking downtown to the walk and protest at the capital. They were happy to take a photo for this blog and were eager to get their word across. 

- Jordan

I took this photo to show the enormity of the rally and how many students, parents, teachers, lawmakers and voters were present at today’s rally at the Florida Capitol Building in Tallahassee, FL, all motivated by a common purpose. This purpose is represented in the poster on the right, which reads “Love your children, not your guns.” It seemed significant to me that you could see beyond the rally and down Apalachee Parkway, a main road in Tallahassee which leads directly out of the city. It made me feel like the speaker addressing the crowd and the posters facing the rally were echoing all the way down the state of Florida, too.

- Anonymous Student