It was Valentine’s Day — a day of flowers and chocolates. A rather uneventful day. Until the horror played out on TV screens across the nation.
Two years ago, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland with an AK-47, killing 17 people. (THREAD)
Two years ago, a former student walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland with an AK-47, killing 17 people. (THREAD)
Today, the families and survivors who were left to pick up the pieces are forever changed.
Since the tragedy, they have channeled their pain into activism, even as the spotlight dims amid a seemingly endless parade of shootings and political battles. hrld.us/31UFQwO
Since the tragedy, they have channeled their pain into activism, even as the spotlight dims amid a seemingly endless parade of shootings and political battles. hrld.us/31UFQwO
“Next year there will be less and less questions. And at the five-year anniversary people aren’t even going to remember their names,” said Debbie Hixon, whose husband, Chris, was one of the 17 people killed by gunman Nikolas Cruz.
But there have been some victories.
After the 2018 shooting, survivors formed #MarchForOurLives, filling the streets of Washington, D.C., with thousands of teens and adults demanding gun control.
Parents and spouses of victims formed their own group, Stand With Parkland.
After the 2018 shooting, survivors formed #MarchForOurLives, filling the streets of Washington, D.C., with thousands of teens and adults demanding gun control.
Parents and spouses of victims formed their own group, Stand With Parkland.
The first win came with the Florida Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
Broward County’s sheriff was removed, deputies were fired and a wave of school safety measures have been enacted across the U.S.
But differences among activists started to emerge.
Broward County’s sheriff was removed, deputies were fired and a wave of school safety measures have been enacted across the U.S.
But differences among activists started to emerge.
There’s Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed. Guttenberg is urging lawmakers to require background checks on bullet purchases.
He was tossed out of the State of the Union speech this month after shouting at President Trump. hrld.us/2SOeF2E
He was tossed out of the State of the Union speech this month after shouting at President Trump. hrld.us/2SOeF2E
Others, like Andrew Pollack, father of victim Meadow Pollack, want safer schools.
He’s also suing the federal government because the “FBI failed to take any action” on tips it received before the shooting.
He’s also suing the federal government because the “FBI failed to take any action” on tips it received before the shooting.
“Everything I do is to hold people accountable and to make a change so it doesn’t happen again,” Pollack said.
“Anyone that failed my daughter, I’m going to expose them and hold them accountable.”
“Anyone that failed my daughter, I’m going to expose them and hold them accountable.”
Wherever they may stand on gun reform, the pain felt by the Parkland families is very public, and something they share with the world. hrld.us/31UFQwO
