Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Rally and march planned in Rochester Saturday by area students

Students at Brighton H.S. were among those participating in a walkout earlier this month over the issue of gun violence
Tianna Manon
/
WXXI News
Students at Brighton H.S. were among those participating in a walkout earlier this month over the issue of gun violence

Organizers say they are expecting possibly one million people to turn out Saturday for hundreds of rallies worldwide and in the U.S. capital in the wake of the Florida school massacre.

It could become one of the largest marches in history with people turning out in Washington, D.C., and more than 800 sister marches from California to Japan.

Brighton High School senior Dylan Holcomb is the lead organizer of the local march at Washington Square Park  in Rochester.

He says he was inspired by the way students at Parkland High in Florida turned a tragedy and traumatic event into a cause for activism.

Holcomb also helped organize a school walkout earlier this month to call for an end to gun violence.

"We really just wanted to launch an event that would bring together all communities of Rochester to unite against one cause that we all felt passionate for."

And that's speaking out against gun violence, and supporting common sense gun laws, according to Holcomb.

He says between 2,000 and 6,000 people are expected to take in the "March for our Lives" in Rochester, starting at 3:00 p.m.  Saturday at Washington Square Park.

Beginning at 4 p.m. participants will march west on Court Street, north on Exchange Boulevard, east on Broad Street, south on Bausch & Lomb Place and end at Washington Square Park.

Rochester City officials issued a traffic advisory for Saturday:

•St Mary’s Place: Closed all day Saturday, until the march is over (approximately 5 p.m.)

•Court Street Bridge: No parking will be allowed all day Saturday

The following will be closed during the march (approximately 4 to 5 p.m.)

•Court Street from South Avenue to Clinton Avenue

•Exchange Street from Fitzhugh Street to Broad Street

•Broad Street between Exchange Street and Clinton Avenue

•Bausch & Lomb Place

Alex Crichton is host of All Things Considered on WXXI-FM 105.9/AM 1370. Alex delivers local news, weather and traffic reports beginning at 4 p.m. each weekday.