March for Our Lives puts up ‘Complacency Kills Us’ art installation outside Capitol

March for Our Lives, a gun control advocacy group formed in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting last year, put up an art installation Tuesday behind the Capitol to protest lack of action on gun violence. 

“Come out to our art activation today behind the Capitol building, open til 5 PM,” the group tweeted. 

DC: Come out to our art activation today behind the Capitol building, open til 5 PM. #YourComplacencyKillsUs pic.twitter.com/sjDoUin1RM

— March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) March 26, 2019

According to tweets from activists, the art “activation” featured a message that read “Your Complacency Kills Us.”

The first part of the activation was the message to Congress.

Every window of the Capitol had a clear view of our message… including the senate majority office where all of GOP leadership had lunch looking at this: pic.twitter.com/rakg6iJ18x

— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) March 26, 2019

It also appeared to include religious symbols meant to look like gravestones with roles and titles like “student,” “boyfriend” and “coach.” They were placed in the shape of a heart. Activist Matt Deitsch tweeted that the group used titles rather than names so “everyone could connect” with them. 

The second part are the memorials.

735 of them.

Communities around America erect these in the response to tragedy.

Victims names don’t seem to connect with some Americans so we put titles everyone could connect with.

Brother, daughter, friend… so people saw themselves. pic.twitter.com/PQmezMxK5C

— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) March 27, 2019

In the center of the heart the activists placed a figure that looks like a student wearing a sweatshirt that says, “Am I next?” There appeared to be a mirror where the student’s face should be, so that viewers would see themselves.  

The centered Student statue is supposed to be jarring.

From far away it really looked like someone was sitting in the desk.

But when you are face-to-face you see yourself with the statement “AM I NEXT?”

The student is holding a digital memorial for 13 young people killed. pic.twitter.com/cDPSt6GmE6

— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) March 27, 2019

Gun control advocacy group Giffords praised the installation as “powerful.” The group tweeted, “It’s time for the Senate to pass background checks.”

Powerful scene at the US Capitol. Today @AMarch4OurLives is honoring the 40,000 people killed by gun violence every year with an art activation on Congress’s doorstep.

Their demand: It’s time for the Senate to pass background checks. If you’re in the DC area, stop by! pic.twitter.com/qa6AB02Ugf

— Giffords (@GiffordsCourage) March 26, 2019 

The Hill has reached out to March for Our Lives for comment. 

Last year, 14 people, including students and teachers, were killed in a shooting at the school in Parkland, Fla.