This sign, showing Donald Trump as a puppet controlled by a hand labeled “NRA” is really powerful to me because it shows how this movement is educating people. March for Our Lives has made political literacy a major part of its movement goals....

This sign, showing Donald Trump as a puppet controlled by a hand labeled “NRA” is really powerful to me because it shows how this movement is educating people. March for Our Lives has made political literacy a major part of its movement goals. Through public discussion, information shared in interviews, and engagement in dialogue with political leaders, the movement professionals aim to show how the NRA influences American political processes. This sign and its message is reflective of the movement’s messaging.

- Alexandra McLeod

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...

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

This sign takes a more specific diagnostic frame, naming on AR-15 semi-automatic rifles as a main “problem.” He connects to the master frame of “rights” used throughout American politics. The person holding this sign is wearing a “We are Orlando”...

This sign takes a more specific diagnostic frame, naming on AR-15 semi-automatic rifles as a main “problem.” He connects to the master frame of “rights” used throughout American politics.  The person holding this sign is wearing a “We are Orlando” shirt, connecting the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando to mass shootings at schools under the greater umbrella of gun violence. This also ties this protestor’s vantage point to LGBTQ+ advocacy. 

- Jose, Lindsey, and Madison

Seeing this sign, we had a first few reactions. First, it makes the observer think, this boy shouldn’t have to protest for his right to a safe education, he’s so young. He has used bullet hole imagery through the sign, making it more impactful and...

Seeing this sign, we had a first few reactions. First, it makes the observer think, this boy shouldn’t have to protest for his right to a safe education, he’s so young. He has used bullet hole imagery through the sign, making it more impactful and reminding the viewer about violence. This image makes us wonder: is this young person’s motive to protest his own? Is he with a parent or guardian who has encouraged him to protest? Is it his own initiative to protest? One tactic movements like to take is that they are taking action “for the children” or “for our future.” How is this different when children are not only the focus, but the leadership for a movement?

- John

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

Participant Observation: My good friend and I decided to take a stand because we both have experience with our communities facing gun violence. Being from Orlando, I was affected by the Pulse shooting and the fear that ensued while awaiting to see if...

Participant Observation: My good friend and I decided to take a stand because we both have experience with our communities facing gun violence. Being from Orlando, I was affected by the Pulse shooting and the fear that ensued while awaiting to see if my friends were safe. My friend went to a high school very close to Stoneman Douglas. Our signs depict our frustrations with the continuous efforts, but also indicate that we will keep fighting until this terrible event never happens again.
- 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

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

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...

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

I took this photo as one of the speakers, a rabbi, began to give his remarks at the Tallahassee Capitol building during today’s protest. He spoke about the importance of faith and action simultaneously, and later he asked for a moment of silence and...

I took this photo as one of the speakers, a rabbi, began to give his remarks at the Tallahassee Capitol building during today’s protest. He spoke about the importance of faith and action simultaneously, and later he asked for a moment of silence and then read the names of the victims. It was so powerful to see such a huge gathering be completely still to honor the people they had lost. I thought this particular photo was significant because virtually everyone is facing this one man as he talks about the necessity of “goodness.” In a moment in time which is so saturated by grief and anger, it felt important to recognize how much of the activism was and is driven by hope - a key emotion that fuels social movement emergence and persistence.

- Anonymous Student

As is common in social movements, many different social movement organizations across the anti-gun violence social movement industry participated in Wednesday’s gun safety reform rally in Tallahassee, FL. Pictured is a woman wearing a “Moms Demand...

As is common in social movements, many different social movement organizations across the anti-gun violence social movement industry participated in Wednesday’s gun safety reform rally in Tallahassee, FL. Pictured is a woman wearing a “Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America” shirt. Moms demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a social movement organization founded in 2012 in response to the Sandy Hook school shooting. At her side is an individual wearing prison stripes, handcuffs, and a large plaster head of President Trump. Though it is unclear what particular social movement organization the Trump caricature belongs to, it is likely that the individual identifies with a separate social movement industry that addresses concerns regarding the presidency of Donald Trump. Both activists appear to have mobilized for instrumental purposes, in that their messages address an array of concerns effecting the collective good of society.  

- Sarah O’Neil