The New England Patriots are helping victims of gun violence use their voices for change.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft lent the team airplane to victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman-Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., so that they can attend the “March for Our Lives” on Saturday in Washington, D.C., Patriots spokesman Stacey James confirmed to the Boston Globe’s Steve Annear.
Students, some of whom were injured in the Valentine’s Day shooting, and families of the 17 people who died flew “AirKraft” Thursday from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the nation’s capital. They’ll return home on the Boeing wide-body 767 following the march.
Kraft offered the Patriots plane to Parkland students and their families at the behest of former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a 2011 shooting, and her husband, Mark Kelly.
Organizers are expecting around 500,000 participants in “March for Our Lives,” which will protest gun violence and call on the federal government to pass new gun-control measures. Similar demonstrations also will take place Saturday around the country.
