On March 24, 2018, March for Our Lives happened for the first time. Shortly after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, student organizers led the demonstration in D.C., teaming up with the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety to plan a march to protest gun violence. The turnout in Washington was nothing short of astounding, and 800 other locations across the country followed suit, resulting in a powerful protest of nearly 2 million. One sibling march happened in Philadelphia, drawing thousands of supporters and ending with a rally at Penn’s Landing.
On that day, many voices rang loud and clear, passionate and impactful. One of them belonged to 18 year-old Emma González, an activist and advocate for gun control, and a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas shooting. Emma founded Never Again MSD in response to the tragedy at (Marjory) Stoneman Douglas High School. Her drive to create positive change is informed by the experiences that have shaped her life and her perspective, and she has a story worth sharing one hundred million times. Her bravery was undeniable as she stood strong, delivering truth on that stage, speaking before a D.C. crowd that hung not only her every word, but every second of her silence. Maybe you’ve already heard Emma speak. If you have, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. If not, you’ll understand soon enough. This young ambassador and survivor delivered a gripping testimony, and in the fight against gun violence, she is nothing short of inspiring.
On February 14, 2018, the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting happened, taking 17 lives and wounding 14 others. We don’t want another Stoneman Douglas. We don’t want another Sandy Hook. We don’t want another Columbine. We each have our own reasons why we’ve united to fight and become a part of something bigger than all of us. But it’s looking a lot like the beginning of a revolution, and that’s exactly what we need right now.
Comments on this entry are closed.