On 24 March, the March For Our Lives rally in Washington D.C. saw over 800,000 students, teachers and gun reform activists come together to fight for gun control legislation.

Among them was Naomi Wadler from Alexandria, Virginia, who said she represented African-American girls ignored by the media after suffering from gun violence.

The 11-year-old – who co-led her elementary school’s walk-out, joining a national movement seeking stricter gun controls in the wake of 17 people killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida last month – stood up in front of the crowds to speak on behalf of all those who couldn’t.

“My name is Naomi, and I am 11 years old,” she began.

“Me and my friend Carter led a walk-out at our elementary school on the 14th. We walked out for 18 minutes, adding a minute to honour Courtlin Arrington, an African-American girl who was the victim of gun violence at her school in Alabama after the Parkland shooting.”

Wadler continued: “I am here today to represent Courtlin Arrington. I am here today to represent Hadiya Pendleton. I am here today to represent Taiyania Thompson, who at just 16 was shot here in her home in Washington D.C. I am here today to acknowledge and represent the African-American girls whose stories don’t make the front page of every national newspaper. These stories don’t lead on the evening news.

“I represent the African-American women who are victims of gun violence who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls who are full of potential.”

Watch: 11-year-old girl demands that the world stop ignoring murdered women of colour