D.C.’s March for Our Lives 2018: What to know before you go

In an effort to advocate for gun control, thousands are planning on taking to the streets in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, March 24 for the March For Our Lives. According to the March For Our Lives website, the purpose of the event is to “demand that their [children’s and family’s] lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.”

Spearheading the March For Our Lives are the survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Curbed sister site Vox anticipates there being as many as 500,000 people with plans for 800 “sibling marches” worldwide, from Hong Kong to Maui. There will also be another march on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting in Colorado.

For updates from the city on safety, weather, traffic, and transit, be sure to sign up for free alerts by texting “MARCH24” to 888-777. There is a March For Our Lives app available on both the Apple and Google Play stores. As part of the event, there is also a petition to Congress to ban the sale of assault weapons, prohibit the sale of high-capacity magazines, and require a background check for gun sales.

What is the parade route?

Image via March For Our Lives

The march will begin at 12 p.m., spanning from Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 12th Street NW through Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 3rd Street NW.

How are people getting there?

Street closures

Image via the Metropolitan Police Department

Driving in Downtown Washington, D.C., will be tough for motorists as there will be several street and road closures starting Thursday, March 22 at 7 p.m. For a full list of street closures and the respective time frames that the closures will occur, be sure to head to the Metropolitan Police Department website.

Metrorail and Metrobus

Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. with trains departing end-of-line stations every eight minutes. For the duration of the event, the Federal Triangle Metro station will be closed, and the 441 entrance to Judiciary Square Metro Station will also be closed.

Recommended alternative Metro stations to take include the Judiciary Square, Gallery Place-Chinatown, Smithsonian, and Archives-Navy Memorial Metro stations.

For extra room, bicycles, large coolers, and “oversized items” will not be permitted on Metrorail on the day of the event.

On the Metrobus, WMATA reports that Metro will run rush-hour service levels throughout the day.

Are there any good deals at nearby eateries during the event?

Through an initiative, known as #FoodForOurLives, free or discounted meals will be provided on Saturday to any students under the age of 18 with a valid ID. Through 5 p.m., participating restaurants will include Think Food Lab (701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW), The Pig (1320 14th Street NW), The Bird (1337 11th Street NW), Beefsteak (multiple locations), Sugar Shack Donuts (multiple locations), Shake Shack (multiple locations), Sweetgreen (multiple locations), Cava (multiple locations), Rasa (1247 1st Street SE), and Taco Bamba (777 I Street NW).

The initiative is supported by ThinkFoodGroup, &pizza, Eat Well DC, Sugar Shack Donuts, Shake Shack, and Sweetgreen.