Oprah Winfrey has pledged to donate $500,000 to March for Our Lives, a rally formed following a deadly school shooting in Florida that aims for increased gun control and school safety measures.
Oprah's donation comes after George and Amal Clooney announced they are donating $500,000 to the cause. The couple also said they would also join students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for the rally on March 24 in the nation's capital.
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"Our children's lives depend on it," the couple said in a statement, according to BBC.
Oprah announced that she planned on matching that donation on Tuesday evening in a tweet.
"These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we've had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard," the tweet reads.
George and Amal, I couldn’t agree with you more. I am joining forces with you and will match your $500,000 donation to ‘March For Our Lives.’ These inspiring young people remind me of the Freedom Riders of the 60s who also said we’ve had ENOUGH and our voices will be heard.
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 20, 2018
Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, have also pledged to donate $500,000 to the cause.
"The young students in Florida and now across the country are already demonstrating their leadership with a confidence and maturity that belies their ages," said the couple's statement read. "We are joining in this movement with a donation of $500,000."
The march was organized by survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The shooting left 17 people dead.
"Here's a time to talk about gun control: March 24. My message for the people in office is: You're either with us or against us. We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around," said junior Cameron Kasky.
"Not one more. We cannot allow one more child to be shot at school. We cannot allow one more teacher to make a choice to jump in front of a firing assault rifle to save the lives of students. We cannot allow one more family to wait for a call or text that never comes. Our schools are unsafe. Our children and teachers are dying. We must make it our top priority to save these lives," the organization's mission statement reads. "On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington, DC to demand that their lives and safety become a priority. The collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard."
Mary Stringini is a Digital Producer for ABC Action News. Follow her on Twitter @MaryWFTS.
