As I do every year, I’ve spent the better part of the last month rewatching Gilmore Girls. I’m not sure how it happens, but every year, I get to Rory’s high school graduation episode within 48 hours of 12/14. In her valedictorian speech, Rory refers to Lorelei as her best friend, she talked about growing up in a house filled with love and fun and books and music and role models.

My statement from earlier 🧵:
My name is Erica, I am the daughter of Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung, the principal of sandy hook school — and as I was testifying about the rape threats that were sent to me because of Alex Jones’ lies, he was on the steps of the courthouse holding a press conference spreading his hate and further pushing his dangerous agenda.

After almost a decade of threats and messages from conspiracy theorists lead by Jones, this is a moment years in the making. And in this big moment,

My sister and I were tasked with picking out what she would be buried in. A beautiful green dress. Sandy Hook Green. Tina and I decided to wear yoga pants and Sandy Hook School Staff shirts with black Uggs to the wake. We knew that we would be standing for 12 hours or more. We wanted to be comfortable. We wanted to show our support for the school. Mostly, we wanted to match Mommy.

Six years ago she was getting her last hour of sleep. She would wake up and get ready for work just like it was any other day.

I am grateful to know that she was so happy that morning, playing jokes on her colleague, helping to get a coffee stain out of a sweater returning a perfectly folded scarf that she borrowed to wear to the winter concert the night before.

Her morning at work would start out like any other. Busy, efficient. She did not know that the PPT meeting would be her last. She heard a noise and silenced the room.