Sixteen-year-old Niles Francis, a student at South Cobb High School, marched with grandfather, Jerry Pennick. Francis is lobbying the Georgia General Assembly to pass SB 457, a school safety bill requiring more active shooter drills.

Sixteen-year-old Niles Francis, a student at South Cobb High School, marched with grandfather, Jerry Pennick. Francis is lobbying the Georgia General Assembly to pass SB 457, a school safety bill requiring more active shooter drills.

About 30,000 people turned out at the March For Our Lives in Atlanta Saturday to advocate for changes to gun laws. GPB's Emily Cureton reports...

As volunteers worked the crowds to register voters, South Cobb High school student Niles Francis held his sign high above his head. It listed lawmakers who took money from the NRA. He’s still two years away from voting for the first time. But he’s determined to be heard now.

“A movement like this proves that your voice does matter,” Francis said.

This year Francis lobbied for SB 457, a bill mandating school safety drills. It passed the Georgia house and awaits a vote in the senate.

Marching alongside him was his grandfather, Jerry Pennick.

“I like the idea that these kids are taking the baton. Instead of us passing it, they took it,” Pennick said. 

He was a student activist in the Civil Rights movement 50 years ago. Pennick said if history is repeating, "it will be better this time around." 

Tags: March For Our Lives  student protest  Gun reform  Atlanta  Georgia