After the horrific shooting on February 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that took 17 lives, a group of students have taken it upon themselves to advocate for change and to challenge lawmakers to reform the current gun laws in the United States.
At the CNN town hall meeting on February 21, the students confronted their politicians and the National Rifle Association (NRA) Spokesperson Dana Loesch. Emma Gonzalez, her fellow students and their parents challenged Florida Senator Marco Rubio for his response to the shooting and his stance on the current gun laws. Gonzalez also tried to get the NRA spokesperson to give an explicit response on the NRA’s stance on the banning of semiautomatic weapons and bump stocks, Hello Giggles reports.
And just like the rest of us, former First Lady Michelle Obama was in awe of how brave and determined these young adults are.
Michelle Obama, according to Hello Giggles, tweeted out her support to the Parkland students, writing, “I’m in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But @barackobama and I believe in you, we’re proud of you, and we’re behind you every step of the way.”
I’m in total awe of the extraordinary students in Florida. Like every movement for progress in our history, gun reform will take unyielding courage and endurance. But @barackobama and I believe in you, we’re proud of you, and we’re behind you every step of the way.
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) February 22, 2018
And Gonzalez responded in the most perfect way possible, according to InStyle Magazine: with a Leslie Knope GIF. The response features the beloved lead character, played by Amy Poehler, of the former hit NBC show Parks and Rec, saying, “I agree with you on all things. Throughout history until the end of time forever.”
— Emma González (@Emma4Change) February 22, 2018
Gonzalez’s response with a Leslie Knope GIF comes after the NRA tweeted a message on Wednesday night to thank Loesch for “being the voice of over 5 million NRA members” and also included a Leslie Knope GIF. Parks and Rec creator Michael Schur and actors from the show, asked the NRA to remove the tweet, since they did not want the show tied to the NRA’s agenda. Amy Poehler also told Schur to tweet the NRA to tell them to “f— off.”