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Mimi Launder
Feb 19, 2018
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Getty Images / RHONA WISE / Contributor
You probably know the name Emma Gonzales by now. If not, you should.
In the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Gonzalez stepped up during an anti-gun rally to deliver an impassioned speech.
After surviving a gunman opening fire at her school, killing 17 and leaving more than a dozen injured, Gonzalez's cry for stricter gun control is more personal than most.
She said:
Every single person up here today, all these people should be home grieving.
But instead, we are up here standing together because if all our government and President can do is send thoughts and prayers, then it's time for victims to be the change that we need to see.
She challenged US President Donald Trump, who tried to place the blame on the neighbours and classmates of the "mentally disturbed" alleged gunman for not reporting him sooner.
Gonzalez said:
If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and how it should never have happened and maintain telling us how nothing is going to be done about it.
I’m going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association.
Trump received millions of dollars for his 2016 presidential election campaign from the National Rifle Association.
People were full of praise for Gonzalez.
I’ve never seen more hope in the midst of such devastation and grief. God bless Emma and these kids. I really think… https://t.co/haC7Hs0ITb— Joey McIntyre (@Joey McIntyre) 1518965789
This is incredible. Just maybe we still live in a world where a speech can change things. https://t.co/NUFnyYcsqk— jon ronson (@jon ronson) 1518965826
To all the Republicans who take NRA money and the sanctimonious Democrats who think it’s ok to “evolve” on gun cont… https://t.co/ht25BcBHAo— Richard W. Painter (@Richard W. Painter) 1518931676
As a Trauma Surgeon, and victim of gun violence I’m inspired by this young woman. Next time you go vote, remembe… https://t.co/mpJ5aeosN8— Joseph Sakran (@Joseph Sakran) 1518914096
Emma Gonzalez is powerful. And it is that energy that will change the world.— Uzo Aduba (@Uzo Aduba) 1518911681
Emma Gonzalez is what just Made America Great Again.— Bess Kalb (@Bess Kalb) 1518983948
Gonzalez's speech has become an emblem for evermore furious gun control advocacy.
Watch Emma Gonzalez burn down Donald Trump, the @NRA and lawmakers beholden to them during a scathing speech today… https://t.co/QYZDo967aH— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1518894281
Survivors are leading the discussion.
Oh my god. 17 OF MY CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS ARE GONE AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO MAKE THIS ABOUT RUSSIA???!! HAVE A… https://t.co/1XcG2oSWwS— Morgan Williams (@Morgan Williams) 1518956223
My friends an i have been hard at work at North Community Park calling attention to @NeverAgainMSD and… https://t.co/ZQH5Wgr57R— X González (@X González) 1518974609
Students are also organising a gun control march in Washington and other major cities in March.
Has anyone made the call for Gonzalez 2020 yet?
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