On February 14, 2018, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, experienced America’s deadliest high school shooting since the 1999 Columbine shooting. The Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School shooting took the lives of 14 students and 3 teachers, and injured many more. America is still reeling from the brutality of this attack, but there is something different about this one. In the aftermath of a tragedy that is becoming all too common in the U.S., we are seeing the most unexpected turn of events: children—not just adults—are demanding change.
How Speaking Up Can Make a Difference
Gun laws and regulations are a pressure point in American culture right now. With 88 guns for every 100 people, the U.S. is the world leader for gun ownership. Unsurprisingly, it also suffers more than 11x the mass shootings of any other developed country. Following the violent attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, President Trump recommended arming teachers as a solution to prevent future school shootings, while also blaming violent video games for those occurrences. Following a school shooting, this kind of rhetoric is not uncommon—gun-loving adults love to point the finger anywhere but at themselves—but in this case, the public response has been anything but commonplace.
The surviving students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School decided that they have no interest in accepting the tried and true gun control two-step on show after every school shooting, and instead took it upon themselves to speak up. These students are using Twitter, Facebook, media interviews, peaceful protests, walkouts and press conferences to stand up and demand change to America’s gun laws. In short, they are doing what the adults failed to do, and are creating something meaningful from a tragic situation.
To the politicians saying this isn’t about guns, and that we shouldn’t be discussing this rn:
We were literally being shot at while trying to gain an education. So this is about guns. You weren’t in the school while this was happening. We were, and we’re demanding change.
— Sarah Chadwick (@Sarahchadwickk) February 16, 2018
The Impact of Taking a Stand
The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have also been calling for Americans to vote against politicians who accept money from the National Rifle Association (NRA), and have been putting pressure on companies that partner with the NRA in any capacity:
Hope you guys enjoyed being Politicians! #votethemout pic.twitter.com/kqUuO0lOye
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) February 21, 2018
Hey @FedEx why do you support the NRA?
— David Hogg 🟧 (@davidhogg111) February 23, 2018
This latter campaign has been so successful that companies who used to offer perks to NRA members are no longer doing so and are cutting ties with the organization. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, MetLife and Symantec are just a few of the companies making such moves, proving that the students’ message is being heard loud and clear.
But they’re not stopping there. A national walkout protest arranged by Empower, the youth branch of the Women’s March organization, is scheduled for March 14, 2018, at 10:00am and is set to take place for 17 minutes—one minute for every life that was lost during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Students are also organizing a protest in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018, in association with March For Our Lives. In the 17 days leading up to the march, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are also honoring a fallen friend on social media—one day for each of the lives taken during the shooting.
For every one of the 17 days between now & the March For Our Lives, we’re honoring one of the 17 victims. Today we honor Alyssa—former star soccer player & debate team champion. She was just 14-years-old when her right to life was taken from her. #WhyWeMarch #ForThe17 pic.twitter.com/L3Yt4obKiw
— Will LeGate (@williamlegate) March 7, 2018
The Takeaway
Tragedy can amplify voices that need to be heard and the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are proving that to the world with their #NeverAgain movement. Every interview, every tweet and every protest puts more pressure on governing bodies to enact change, combatting a crisis that requires communication and action. While this duty has been thrust upon these high school students under the most trying circumstances, they are handling their ordeal with courage and integrity.
What this goes to show is that when a message is delivered at the right moment with the right impact, it can inspire change. While the end result remains to be seen, these students have used their voices to start a chain of events unlike anything the U.S. has ever experienced.
If you want to champion your own cause online, use Silence.Sucks or BeingSilenced.Sucks to start telling your story.
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / KMH Photovideo