WASHINGTON _ On Saturday, young people around the world will participate in the March for Our Lives, urging lawmakers to find solutions that stop gun violence and mass shootings just over a month after the nation's deadliest high school shooting in Florida's Broward County.
But South Florida's Republican lawmakers in Congress either have no plans to attend, or won't say what they're doing on Saturday.
The March for Our Lives was organized by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students after a former classmate killed 17 people on Valentine's Day. The students have also been coordinating with gun control advocacy groups who generally do not support Republican officeholders. As of Wednesday, the organizers announced that 837 marches will take place around the world, including the main event in Washington, D.C.
Every Democratic officeholder from South Florida who responded to the Miami Herald has plans to participate, either in Washington or marches in South Florida.
Here's what elected officials had to say about their participation:
_ NOT ATTENDING:
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican: Ros-Lehtinen will be attending a baptism ceremony for her grandchild on Saturday, according to a spokesperson.
"The Congresswoman will not be participating but her legislative director and other members of her D.C. staff will be meeting with march participants who have requested a meeting to discuss gun safety," spokesman Keith Fernandez said in an email. "Ileana's fifth and youngest grandbaby will have his baptism at her church this Saturday."
There are two marches happening Saturday in Ros-Lehtinen's district, one in Miami Beach and one in Kendall.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican: Diaz-Balart will not be attending the march, a spokeswoman said. There are two marches happening Saturday in Diaz-Balart's district, one in Doral and one in Miami Lakes.
_ UNCLEAR:
President Donald Trump, Republican: The White House declined to answer when asked about Trump's schedule on Saturday, though he's expected to visit his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach this weekend, according to an alert issued to pilots Wednesday morning by the Federal Aviation Administration. If Trump heads to Mar-a-Lago, he won't need to go far to find a march, as the West Palm Beach affiliate march is happening two miles away.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Republican: Scott's staffers said they have not finalized his schedule for the weekend yet. There are 56 marches scheduled throughout Florida on Saturday, including one in Tallahassee.
Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican: Rubio's office did not respond to questions on his schedule for Saturday and whether or not he plans to attend the march in Washington or a march in Florida.
Rep. Carlos Curbelo, Republican: Curbelo's office said his plans for the weekend are uncertain due to a federal spending bill that could be finalized on Saturday.
"Given the uncertainty surrounding votes on government spending, his plans for Saturday are on hold," Curbelo spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said in an email. "The congressman is grateful for the advocacy of the millions of students and adults from across the country who have been moved to action since the tragedy at Parkland, and he hopes Saturday's demonstrations across the nation will stir more of his colleagues to join him in supporting policies that could mitigate and prevent similar gun violence tragedies in the future."
Rodriguez added that Curbelo is meeting with high school students from across his district later this spring to discuss school safety and gun violence. There are two marches Saturday in Curbelo's district, both in the Florida Keys.
_ ATTENDING:
Sen. Bill Nelson, Democrat: Nelson told the Miami Herald he plans to attend and potentially speak at the March for Our Lives in Washington. "I'm going to be wherever the kids are," he said.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Democrat: Wasserman Schultz's office said she will be in Washington for the march, and is hosting a reception with Broward County constituents on Friday afternoon before the march.
Rep. Frederica Wilson, Democrat: Wilson's office didn't respond to a request for her schedule, though Wasserman Schultz's office said she will be co-hosting the Friday afternoon reception.
Rep. Ted Deutch, Democrat: Deutch, who represents Parkland in Washington, will be attending and participating in the march in Washington.
Rep. Lois Frankel, Democrat: Frankel's office said she will be attending the March for Our Lives event in West Palm Beach.
Rep. Alcee Hastings, Democrat: Hastings will be in Washington for the march, and is co-hosting the reception with Wasserman Schultz and Wilson.
