Today as I was reading through my timeline I felt prompted to write this post, hoping to maybe give myself and other students some peace that we’re not in this alone – and reassurance that there is some beauty amidst the heartbreaking pain.
Within the first 45 days of 2018 there were 17 school shootings in the US. Then, on February 14th in Parkland, Florida number 18. 14 students and 3 teachers lost their lives at Stoneman Douglas High School. Today, March 14th, students all around the country walked out of their classes and stood silent for 17 minutes to honor the victims of the Parkland shooting. However, this movement has gotten much larger than just Parkland, this is a generation crying out to those in office to do something about gun violence. Students want there to be stricter gun laws in place and assault rifle ownership to be illegal so that they feel safe and protected in the schools they attend.
This might sound silly, but as I was watching my Snapchat stories today and scrolling through my social media, there were posts and videos all over of my friends standing silent, the news headlines talking about the walk out, and my peers pleading for change. Students, some of which not yet of voting age, carried signs pleading to those who are saying things such as “Love your kids, not your guns.” as pictured below. As well as things like “Am I next?” and “How many more?”
If these signs don’t pierce your heart, what will? I’m only 20 years old, but if there’s anything I’ve noticed is that tragedy brings people together, and oh it is so refreshing. It’s comforting to me to listen to an interview with a student from Parkland talk about how they have received letters from other schools saying that they are praying for them, and his response is that Parkland is there for them too. Here is just a short video posted by Fox News of footage from today’s walkout in some states.
So, I guess just wanted to write this post not only to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives to gun violence and school shootings, but I wanted to encourage you and all students across the country that we’re in this together. Enforcing better gun control laws is not a fight that can be ignored, nor it is a fight one can win alone, but as long as we continue to make our voices be heard and be the passionate generation we are, we can do it together.
Always here for you,
@AllForHim28
