George-Amal Clooney donate $500,000 to student march demanding gun reforms
What's the story
Hollywood royalty George and Amal Clooney have pledged $500,000 (about Rs. 3.24 crore) to support a student march demanding gun control reforms.
The rally, called The March for Our Lives, will be held in Washington on March 24. It has been planned in the wake of last week's school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in which 19-year-old killed 17 people.
Read on for more.
Importance
Why the march?
Though Parkland shooting's student-survivors have grown up in an America where such mishaps are not uncommon, they have vowed to make the tragedy a watershed moment for US gun control laws.
Parkland was the 18th school shooting in the US in two months of 2018. But instead of working on tightening gun control, America wants to arm teachers with rifles to make schools safer.
Contribution
Why are George and Amal Clooney supporting it?
Calling it a "groundbreaking event" on which "our children's lives depend," the Clooneys have donated in the name of their twins Ella and Alexander, who were born last June.
"Amal and I are so inspired by the courage and eloquence of these young men/women from Stoneman Douglas High School. Our family will stand side by side with this incredible young generation," George Clooney said.
Reforms
Will Americans see the change they seek?
The Clooneys are one among several Hollywood A-listers who have publicly slammed government inaction and declared support for tougher gun laws. Among others include TV personality Ellen DeGeneres and actor Reese Witherspoon.
The White House recently announced that President Donald Trump backs deeper background checks for gun purchases. This when America, reeling from grief, loss and disillusionment, needs so much more.