Former March For Our Lives Staffer Accuses Group of Racism, Retaliation in Lawsuit

One of many nation’s main gun-control teams is combating with its recently-laid-off employees.

Former staff of March For Our Lives filed swimsuit towards the group’s board over allegations of racism and retribution, in line with a brand new report from The Hint. On Wednesday, the publication detailed former Director of Growth Zachary Ford’s lawsuit towards the group. He claimed March For Our Lives’ resolution to put off practically all of its employees earlier this yr was pushed not by monetary issues however by retaliation for employees accusations {that a} board plan to shift the group’s focus was motivated by racism.

“It was clear that they felt the each day grind of working in communities that reside with gun violence was not creating headlines,” Ford advised the publication. “[T]hey wished to make headlines, however they have been by no means capable of articulate precisely find out how to make headlines and draw funders.”

The lawsuit is the newest in a string of current setbacks for the gun-control group. Whereas the lawsuit disputes the extent of March For Our Lives’ monetary downturn, the group’s public data point out its fundraising efforts have been in decline because it first rose to prominence again in 2018. The employees firings earlier this yr got here after outstanding early leaders of the group left and simply earlier than its most well-known backer, David Hogg, was compelled out of a co-chair place on the Democratic Nationwide Committee.

March For Our Lives was based by survivors of the 2018 capturing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive College, the place a gunman killed 17 individuals and wounded 18 extra. It was born out of a viral fundraiser that circulated after the assault, however has additionally relied closely on high-dollar donors. A number of Parkland college students, together with Hogg and present government director Jaclyn Corin, grew to become the faces of the group.

They drew an enormous crowd at their preliminary 2018 march in Washington, DC.

March For Our Lives additionally helped push Florida, which was managed by Republicans, to undertake new gun restrictions–together with age limits and a “pink flag” regulation. Though, their efforts fell quick in Congress, regardless of Donald Trump briefly signaling assist for brand new gun restrictions. It regained some momentum after Joe Biden defeated Trump in 2020 and, following public stress from March For Our Lives and different teams, created the White Home Workplace of Gun Violence Prevention.

After all, that victory proved short-lived since Trump unceremoniously closed the workplace after retaking the White Home in 2024.

The group has positioned itself as one of the vital aggressive proponents of recent restrictions on civilian gun possession since its founding. In 2019, it proposed a brand new coverage platform aimed toward taking upwards of 100 million weapons out of public circulation.

“With a purpose to operationalize new legal guidelines like an assault weapons ban and a better customary of gun possession, we have to implement a federal gun buy-back program that facilitates compliance with new legal guidelines and supplies financial incentives for gun house owners to responsibly scale back their gun stock,” the plan stated. “All government-purchased gun stock could be destroyed. The meant objective: a discount of our home firearm inventory by a minimum of 30%. To be clear: the implementation of an assault weapons ban ought to be a full obligatory buy-back of assault weapons, however we’d additionally create applications to encourage voluntary civilian discount of handguns and different firearms.”

March For Our Lives has additionally targeted on intersectionality, emphasizing its assist for different liberal priorities corresponding to local weather change and abortion. That method created stress contained in the group, although, in line with a 2024 inside report The Hint reviewed. The publication stated a number of insiders advised a restructuring advisor the concentrate on different points diluted the group’s main message and turned off donors. Others fearful about its aggressive “weapons are dangerous” messaging.

“We don’t make the most of the Parkland narrative sufficient,” one remark learn, in line with the information outlet. “Parkland nonetheless brings out a visceral response in individuals. We walked away from the Parkland narrative as a result of individuals felt we would have liked to concentrate on Black and brown communities, however I’d not stroll away — particularly in fundraising rooms.”

“I imagine MFOL in recent times has actively detracted from the broader motion by placing out messaging that conveys naivety, entitlement, and condescension,” one other insider reportedly stated.

The Hint reported that staffers reacted significantly negatively towards one declare that the group wanted to maneuver away from specializing in violence amongst “younger Black children” as donors discover it “rather less attention-grabbing as a result of individuals really feel they’ve heard that story.” Ford’s lawsuit additionally claims a black board member resigned from the group after saying there was no place for him there.

Neither Ford nor March For Our Lives responded to requests for touch upon the dispute from The Reload. Nonetheless, Corin denied Ford’s claims in a press release to The Hint.

“The restructuring in March For Our Lives was essential to preserve our doorways open,” she advised the publication.“The allegations within the lawsuit don’t mirror what truly occurred.”

Whoever is right about what went down contained in the group, the group has clearly suffered a extreme downturn in recent times.

Whereas March For Our Lives has seen some success holding marches after 2018, it hasn’t been capable of recreate the turnout or political impression of these early rallies.

Public data additionally present fundraising for the group’s two non-profit entities has collapsed. Probably the most up-to-date information present that its non-political basis skilled a decline in revenues, from $2.2 million in 2022 to $1.4 million in 2023, leading to an working deficit of greater than $300,000. Its political advocacy arm went from elevating $7 million in 2022 to underneath $3.5 million the next yr. It ran a deficit each years, and neither was anyplace close to the $18.6 million it initially raised in 2018.

Nonetheless, Ford advised The Hint the board had assured him the group was financially steady within the lead-up to the layoffs. He stated the employees was caught fully off guard by the firings, and he believed the board was merely utilizing the group’s monetary decline as an excuse to intestine the group.

“To be prepared to get rid of everyone who labored on the group just because they grew to become inconvenient, it was nearly insufferable to course of,” Ford advised the publication. “For them to behave in such a method, moderately than work by way of a tough second, it’s simply thus far faraway from the rules that March for Our Lives claimed to worth.”