Some of the celebrities didn’t just attend the events but also performed, helping to draw even greater crowds. Among them were singer Demi Lovato, for instance, and rapper Vic Mensa.

In Los Angeles, celebrities including Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, and Jaden Smith joined in on the protests, chanting and dancing. Nick Offerman headed to the event wearing a shirt with a blunt message directed at the NRA.

In New York, Paul McCartney attended a rally not far from the location where his Beatles bandmate, John Lennon, was shot to death on the street.

Other celebrities gave money to support the students. George and Amal Clooney donated $500,000 (paywall), and Oprah Winfrey matched their contribution.

Jimmy Fallon partnered with MTV and the NAACP to sponsor a bus of students traveling from New York to Washington. Taylor Swift, who doesn’t often wade into political debates, said she had also donated money.

These celebrities helped to make the marches an even bigger cultural event—and it probably didn’t hurt that they may have bolstered their status in the eyes of their largely young audiences. Those who think celebrities should stay out of politics can expect to keep being disappointed.

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