On February 14th, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School of Parkland, Florida was shockingly confronted by a gunman, who also happened a former student. With seventeen people killed and many more wounded, this event became one of the world’s deadliest school massacres. However, this tragedy was a bit different from other mass shootings that have previously occurred- rather than the event gradually fading off from all social media as time progressed, we can still see portions of it resurfacing. How is this the case? By rallying continuously to plead for stricter gun control, the survivors of this horrific shooting have been making it their mission to ensure that the death of their classmates do not go overseen.
Unsurprisingly, this event has caused many different reactions, all from a wide range of people. Here are the three key outcomes that have stirred up thus far.
1. Celebrities
Major celebrities, including George and Amal Clooney, Steven Spielberg, and Oprah, have joined to donate more than $2 million for March for Our Lives, the student-led gun control march. With this monetary donation, these celebrities expressed their support for these brave survivors.
2. President Trump
From his Twitter account, President Trump has emphasized the importance of arming teachers in all schools. By fortifying each school, Trump has expressed that schools would successfully be able to defeat any threat that comes their way, as teachers “… love their pupils”. While Trump has promised to take actions in response to the Parkland shooting, it seems that he is most determined to make his proposal of arming teachers become reality.
3. National School Walkouts
“Protect Kids, Not Guns”
#MarchForOurLives
From New York City to Santa Monica, many students left their schools to support those affected by the Parkland shooting. In fact, in some schools, parents and faculty even joined in this movement. In this well-coordinated student-led movement, individuals advocated for stricter control for gun control with chants and signs. The walkouts lasted approximately 17 minutes, one for each of the Parkland victims.