Taylor Swift targets America's gun laws

Taylor Swift's statement is significant because she's seen as one of the most powerful celebrities on the planet.

Taylor Swift has surprised her fans by supporting a student-led rally urging the US Congress to take action on gun control and stop mass shootings.

"No one should have to go to school in fear of gun violence. Or to a nightclub. Or to a concert. Or to a movie theatre. Or to their place of worship," the pop superstar wrote on Instagram.

"I've made a donation to show my support for the students, for the March For Our Lives campaign, for everyone affected by these tragedies, and to support gun reform. I'm so moved by the Parkland High School students, faculty, by all families and friends of victims who have spoken out, trying to prevent this from happening again."

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No one should have to go to school in fear of gun violence. Or to a nightclub. Or to a concert. Or to a movie theater. Or to their place of worship. I’ve made a donation to show my support for the students, for the March For Our Lives campaign, for everyone affected by these tragedies, and to support gun reform. I’m so moved by the Parkland High School students, faculty, by all families and friends of victims who have spoken out, trying to prevent this from happening again.

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Mar 23, 2018 at 11:56am PDT

Swift is the latest of many A-listers to support the protest, as George Clooney announced a US$500,000 ($691,000) donation and stars from Miley Cyrus to Common were at the Washington march yesterday.

But Swift's statement is significant because she's one of the most powerful celebrities on the planet, with many millions of followers and she typically avoids saying or doing anything remotely political.

Because of her influence, her silence has recently become a point of criticism, as she didn't speak out one way or another about the 2016 election, and she hasn't denounced fans who are white supremacists.

Last January, Swift's tweet about the Women's March ("So much love, pride, and respect for those who marched. I'm proud to be a woman today, and every day.") also became controversial; many criticised her for not attending the event, even though she uses feminism to promote her brand.

At the end of 2017 she thanked her fans for supporting her new Reputation album and wrote on Instagram, "I couldn't have asked for a better year." Afterward, she was mocked for celebrating a year that had been so difficult for so many people.

For the March for Our Lives, Swift went beyond just a general social media message, as she noted that she made a donation and specifically addressed gun reform.

She has made a concerted effort over the past two years to stay out of the public eye, so when she does break her silence on a topic, it's clear she wants people to pay attention.