Hundreds of thousands of people from across the United States took to the streets of the U.S. capital on Mother's Day to demonstrate against gun violence that took the lives of some of their loved ones.
Organizers said about 750,000 gun-control supporters attended the "Million Mom March" in the National Mall on Sunday. Objective crowd estimates were unavailable.
Mieko Hattori, 52, from Nagoya appealed to supporters for solidarity in their struggle to curb gun violence.
Hattori is one of many mothers who have lost children to guns. Her 16-year-old son Yoshihiro was an exchange student at a U.S. high school when he was killed with a handgun.
Standing on a rostrum with relatives of victims of the Columbine High School massacre that took place in April last year in Colorado, Hattori called on demonstrators to unite in countering the antigun-control stance of the National Rifle Association.
Hattori said the gun-control movement is showing the conscience of the U.S. as a nation.
At a premarch rally on the south lawn of the White House early Sunday, President Bill Clinton voiced his support for the movement, criticizing the NRA and lawmakers who are opposed to gun control.
Clinton asked why no permit system exists in the U.S. for the possession of firearms, when a license is required even to drive a car.
The Million Mom March was aimed at drumming up support for a national gun registration system, a licensing system for gun owners and trigger locks on all handguns.
Other gun-control rallies and marches were held in more than 60 U.S. cities, according to the organizers.