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Here's why there were 7,000 pairs of shoes outside the U.S. Capitol

The shoes represent the children killed by gun violence since the Sandy Hook school shooting.
Some 7,000 pairs of shoes, one for every child killed by gun violence since the Sandy Hook school shooting, were placed on the Capitol lawn by Avaaz, a U.S.-based civic organization, on in Washington, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. [Pablo Martinez Monsivais | Associated Press]
Some 7,000 pairs of shoes, one for every child killed by gun violence since the Sandy Hook school shooting, were placed on the Capitol lawn by Avaaz, a U.S.-based civic organization, on in Washington, Tuesday, March 13, 2018. [Pablo Martinez Monsivais | Associated Press]
Published Mar. 14, 2018

The southeast lawn of the U.S. Capitol was covered in 7,000 pairs of shoes Tuesday, to symbolize the 7,000 children killed by gun violence since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

The protest was arranged by the global advocacy group Avaaz.

According to Avaaz, the 7,000 deaths estimate is based on a statistic from the Centers for Disease Control that 1,300 children die from gun violence every year.

The shoes were donated by people across the country, including celebrities like Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Alyssa Milano, Chelsea Handler and Vanessa Bayer.

“It’s hard when you look at the scale, over 10,000 square feet of shoes on this lawn, and you’re just confronted by the consequences of not passing gun control laws,” Avaaz deputy director Emma Ruby-Sachs said.

Thousands of small shoes litter the ground in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 2018, one pair for each of the estimated 7,000 children who have died from gun violence since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. [Olivier Douliery | Abaca Press | TNS]
Thousands of small shoes litter the ground in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 2018, one pair for each of the estimated 7,000 children who have died from gun violence since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. [Olivier Douliery | Abaca Press | TNS]
Thousands of small shoes litter the ground in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 2018, one pair for each of the estimated 7,000 children who have died from gun violence since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS) 1225865
Thousands of small shoes litter the ground in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on March 13, 2018, one pair for each of the estimated 7,000 children who have died from gun violence since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS) 1225865
Eliana Malkoff, 3, walks near some 7,000 shoes on display on the lawn next to the U.S. Capitol as part of a symbolic memorial to child victims of gun violence organized by the activist group Avaaz, in Washington, March 13, 2018. [Erin Schaff | New York Times]
Eliana Malkoff, 3, walks near some 7,000 shoes on display on the lawn next to the U.S. Capitol as part of a symbolic memorial to child victims of gun violence organized by the activist group Avaaz, in Washington, March 13, 2018. [Erin Schaff | New York Times]
Seven thousand pairs of shoes, representing the children killed by gun violence since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, are spread out on the lawn on the east side of the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. Organized by the online activist group Avaaz, the shoes are intended to urge Congress to pass gun-reform legislation. [Photo by Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images]
Seven thousand pairs of shoes, representing the children killed by gun violence since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, are spread out on the lawn on the east side of the U.S. Capitol March 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. Organized by the online activist group Avaaz, the shoes are intended to urge Congress to pass gun-reform legislation. [Photo by Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images]
The shoes were displayed on the southeast lawn of the U.S. Capitol for most of the day. [Photo by Chip Somodevilla |Getty Images]
The shoes were displayed on the southeast lawn of the U.S. Capitol for most of the day. [Photo by Chip Somodevilla |Getty Images]
One pair of some 7,000 shoes are displayed on the lawn next to the U.S. Capitol as part of a symbolic memorial to child victims of gun violence organized by the activist group Avaaz, in Washington, March 13, 2018. [Erin Schaff | New York Times]
One pair of some 7,000 shoes are displayed on the lawn next to the U.S. Capitol as part of a symbolic memorial to child victims of gun violence organized by the activist group Avaaz, in Washington, March 13, 2018. [Erin Schaff | New York Times]
The global advocacy group Avaaz — a U.S.-based organization launched in 2007 that promotes global activism on issues such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, corruption, poverty, and conflict — planned the protest.The group's website says they received shoe donations from victims’ families, members of the public, and even celebrities. [Photo by Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images]
The global advocacy group Avaaz — a U.S.-based organization launched in 2007 that promotes global activism on issues such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, corruption, poverty, and conflict — planned the protest.The group's website says they received shoe donations from victims’ families, members of the public, and even celebrities. [Photo by Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images]
Some 7,000 shoes are displayed on the lawn next to the U.S. Capitol as part of a symbolic memorial to child victims of gun violence organized by the activist group Avaaz, in Washington, March 13, 2018. [Erin Schaff | New York Times]
Some 7,000 shoes are displayed on the lawn next to the U.S. Capitol as part of a symbolic memorial to child victims of gun violence organized by the activist group Avaaz, in Washington, March 13, 2018. [Erin Schaff | New York Times]
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