Cotter junior, Coy Pederson, read the names of school shooting victims at the March for our Lives rally in Winona.

The March for our Lives rally was one of many nationwide protests to the lack of government control on gun sales.

The Parkland school shooting seemed to really ignite the gun control movement, as now young adults are becoming involved.

Protesters met by the Winona Senior High School and then marched down to the bandshell, which is where Pederson spoke, in addition to other speakers.

Tova Strange and Jerry Windley-Daoust were among the speakers at the event.

Cotter religion teacher, Mary Hansel Parlin asked Pederson whether he wanted to get involved with the rally.

Pederson was already planning on attending the rally, but Hansel Parlin’s request inspired him even more to get involved.

Pederson estimates there were about 300-400 people attending the rally. There were two counter-protesters.

It was Pederson’s first protest, but not his first time being involved with political issues.

“It felt good to be a part of something,” Pederson said.

Cotter eighth-grader Grace Finnerty also participated in the march. Finnerty held the banner with two other college students.

Finnerty became involved because her parents were planning on attending, and then Cotter’s SPA became involved as well.

“When we got to the band shell and the adults and students came up to speak it was especially moving. I was touched by what they were saying and it made me even more passionate about the cause,” Finnerty said.