Paul McCartney pays tribute to John Lennon at March for Our Lives protest

Paul McCartney pays tribute to John Lennon at March for Our Lives protest

Sir Paul McCartney stood in solidarity with protesters at the New York City March for Our Lives protest on Saturday and reminded the world of his own experience with gun violence. 

Without going on camera, he told a CNN reporter: 'As you know, one of my best friends was shot not far from here. 

'It is important to me,' he said.  

It was an understated tribute to John Lennon, his Beatles bandmate who was gunned down outside The Dakota Building, where he lived, in by gunman Mark David Chapman in December 1980. 

The New York City protest on Saturday was held at 72nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West, within eye shot of The Dakota Building and Strawberry Fields, the Central Park tribute created for Lennon after his death

It was created by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and landscape architect Bruce Kelly. 

Ono, now 84, attended the women's march in DC last January. It is not known if she attended any of Saturday's anti-gun events.

The New York City protest was one of nearly 800 happening around the world on Saturday to call for gun reform. 

The main protest was in Washington DC where 500,000 are expected to gather. 

The global event has been orchestrated by the survivors of the Parkland massacre in Florida on February 14. 

On Saturday, McCartney wore a t-shirt saying 'we can end gun violence'. When asked what he wanted to achieve, he pointed to it. 

'You know I am like everyone. I don't know [if we can end it] but this is what we can do so I am here to do it,' he said.  

Later, in a video filmed by another protester, McCartney encouraged young people to 'get out and vote'. 

'You can make the change. It is up to you,' he said. 

Seventeen students and teachers died in the mass killing by gunman Nikolas Cruz. 

Celebrities have been vocal in their support of the protests around the world and have donated their money. 

All have however been eager not to snatch the spotlight from the events' young organizers. 

George Clooney and his wife Amal donated $500,000 to the Washington DC march as did Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. 

Later, in a video filmed by another protester, McCartney encouraged young people to 'get out and vote'. 

'You can make the change. It is up to you,' he said. 

Seventeen students and teachers died in the mass killing by gunman Nikolas Cruz. 

Celebrities have been vocal in their support of the protests around the world and have donated their money. 

All have however been eager not to snatch the spotlight from the events' young organizers. 

George Clooney and his wife Amal donated $500,000 to the Washington DC march as did Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.