Get to Know the Students Demand Action Advisory Board: John Peterson

John is an organizer from Atlanta, Georgia who is studying political science at Georgia State University. After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he organized a walkout event at his school.  The following year, he founded the first Students Demand Action chapter in Georgia. Currently, John serves as a National Advisory Board member and National Training Team member for Students Demand Action.

Get to know John even more in his Q&A!

Name: John Peterson
Pronouns: he/him/his
Age: 19
Astrological Sign: Cancer
Location: Atlanta, GA
School: Georgia State University

What do you hope to pursue after you graduate?

Field organizing

Why is gun violence prevention important to you?

It’s a major public health crisis and the leading cause of death for young people like us in America.

What are you most proud of working on as a Students Demand Action volunteer?

I’m proudest to have been one of the students who worked to push us to 100,000 registered voters in the 2020 election cycle!

What public figure or social justice icon do you most admire and why?

I most admire the late John Lewis for his unyielding lifelong commitment to equality and his determination to make the world a better place.

If you could only eat one food for a year, what would you pick?

Cranberries

What do you do for self care?

Hiking with my dogs

What motivates you to keep going?

The tireless commitment of fellow students is a constant motivator for me.