In Pictures

Students lead protests against gun violence in US

Young people and their families demand stricter gun control laws after mass shooting at Florida school leaves 17 dead.

Emma Gonzalez, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, speaks to the media after calling for more gun control at a rally three days after the shooting at her school, in Fort Lauderdale, Flor — Emma Gonzalez, a senior who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, speaks to the media after calling for more gun control. [Jonathan Drake/Reuters]

Students across the United States are leading protests against gun violence after a mass shooting at a Florida high school left 17 dead last week.

“Politicians who sit in their gilded House and Senate seats funded by the NRA telling us nothing could have ever been done to prevent this, we call BS,” Emma Gonzalez, who survived last Wednesday’s shooting, said in during a speech on Saturday that went viral.

“They say that no laws could have been able to prevent the hundreds of senseless tragedies that have occurred. We call BS,” she added.

Gonzalez is one of many students who has taken to social media and the streets to call for stricter gun control after a gunman opened fire on students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last Wednesday, killing 17 people and injuring more than a dozen others. According to police documents, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz confessed to the shooting.

On Monday, dozens of young people and their families held a three-minute “lie-in” outside the White House to call for greater action on gun laws.

The protest was organised by Teens For Gun Reform, which was created by Washington, DC, youth in the wake of last week’s shooting.

Protests in US cities across the country have echoed the calls of Gonzalez and students in Washington, DC.

Angelina Lazo (C), an 18-year-old senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who said she lost two friends in the shooting at her school two days ago, reacts to honks of support from passing moto — Angelina Lazo, an 18-year-old senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who lost two friends in the shooting, reacts to honks of support from passing motorists as she joins other gun control proponents with placards at a street corner in Coral Springs, Florida. [Jonathan Drake/Reuters]

Jane Schwartz, 17, of West Springfield, Virginia, screams during a protest in favor of gun control reform in front of the White House, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) — Jane Schwartz, 17, of West Springfield, Virginia, rallies with dozens of others during a protest calling for gun control reform outside the White House in Washington, DC. [Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

Children join their parents during a protest rally against gun violence in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. Hundreds of sign-carrying, chanting protesters have converged on a downtown Lo — Children join their parents during a rally against gun violence in downtown Los Angeles. Hundreds of protesters converged on the city on Monday, demanding tougher background checks and other gun safety measures following last week's deadly school shooting in Florida. [Richard Vogel/AP Photo]

A protester weeps while chanting at a rally calling for more gun control three days after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S., February 17, 2018. RE — A protester weeps while chanting at a rally calling for more gun control in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [Jonathan Drake/Reuters]

Demonstrators hold signs during a protest in favor of gun control reform in front of the White House, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) — Demonstrators hold up signs during a protest calling for gun control reform in front of the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday. [Evan Vucci/AP Photo]

Students and others chant at a rally calling for — Students and supporters chant at a rally calling for more gun control Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [Jonathan Drake/Reuters]

Demonstrators lie on the ground a ''lie-in'' demonstration supporting gun control reform near the White House on February 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. According to a statement from the White House, ''the — Demonstrators hold a 'lie-in' demonstration supporting gun control reform outside the White House in Washington, DC, on Monday. [Zach Gibson/Getty Images]

Demonstrators hold signs during a ''lie-in'' demonstration supporting gun control reform near the White House on February 19, 2018 in Washington, DC. According to a statement from the White House, ''the — Demonstrators hold signs during a 'lie-in' demonstration calling for gun control reform near the White House in Washington, DC. [Zach Gibson/Getty Images]

A protester holds a sign at a Call To Action Against Gun Violence rally by the Interfaith Justice League and others in Delray Beach, Florida, U.S. February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Joe Skipper TPX IMAGES OF — A protester holds a sign at a Call To Action Against Gun Violence rally by the Interfaith Justice League and others in Delray Beach, Florida. [Joe Skipper/Reuters]

People join together after a school shooting that killed 17 to protest against guns on the steps of the Broward County Federal court on February 17, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Dozens demand stricter gun control on the steps of the Broward County Federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. [Joe Raedle/Getty Images]