Emma Gonzalez survived the Florida shooting. Now shes taking on Trump and the NRA.

[pnwmom]

Source: USA Today

The strong message of a student who survived the mass shooting at a Florida high school this week reverberated across social media Saturday after a passionate speech at an anti-gun rally.

Emma Gonzalez's name was trending on Twitter for much of the afternoon as she took on President Trump, the National Rifle Association, politicians and every argument against tightening gun laws, starting a chant of "shame on you!" in the crowd of thousands at the rally in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The deaths of 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday has started the familiar debate on gun laws after a mass shooting — but what's different is students are leading the charge and becoming a powerful voice.

Emma's speech caused a firestorm at the rally and on social media, many calling her a hero and a new leader in the fight against gun violence.


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/17/student-emma-gonzalez-school-shooting-gives-passionate-speech-against-g/348357002/

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If you haven't watched her yet, PLEASE DO!

[bearsfootball516]

1. Long term, Republicans are in massive trouble

Millennials and Generation Z are voting Democratic in higher numbers than ever seen in US history. They're the main ones leading the charge that'll turn the country blue.

[Jedi Guy]

3. Yup.

The younger generations aren't swallowing the Republicans' bullshit. As the Republicans' base ages and dies, they'll find it increasingly difficult to win elections except in hardcore conservative strongholds.

What I wish would happen is for the reasonable/sane Republicans would break from the current abomination their party has metastasized into. I keep trying to convince the ones I know that the GOP of Eisenhower is dead, and all they're doing is loitering around a corpse that's really starting to reek.

[NBachers]

12. "Loitering around a corpse that's really starting to reek." I think you'll be welcome here, Jedi Guy

[Jedi Guy]

19. I guess it was a good turn of phrase, then?

And thanks for the welcome, much appreciated.

[Hortensis]

16. If they'd even run behind the crowd in 2016 this wouldn't be.

Their turnout was not good. Just one of the many factors that put our nation in grave jeopardy.

On the plus side now, they are come/coming of age in an era that demonstrates as never before what the vote means. I'm cautiously hopeful that the message will be translated by those with even a little character and conviction into more civic responsibility than their parents' and grandparents' generations.

2016-2018 should be a wake-up call to many nonvoters of all ages. Hopefully, in future not voting will be considered less respectable and the claim that voting doesn't matter will sound a lot stupider to a lot more people. In spite of mass communications encouraging those defeatist attitudes.

[Leghorn21]

2. A gutsy, courageous youngster steps up to the plate, and her name is a household word

in a matter of hours. OH HELL YEAH EMMA GONZALEZ

Meanwhile, a survivor of the Douglas High School massacre takes on right wing spokesmodel Tomi Lahren:

snip

On Wednesday night, conservative commentator Tomi Lahren took to Twitter, saying it was too early to talk about gun control.

"Can the Left let the families grieve for even 24 hours before they push their anti-gun and anti-gunowner agenda? My goodness. This isn't about a gun it's about another lunatic," she wrote.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Student Caryl Novell quickly responded.

"I was hiding in a closet for two hours. It was about guns. You weren't there, you don't know how it felt. Guns give these disgusting people the ability to kill other human beings," Novell said. "This IS about guns and this is about all the people who had their life abruptly ended because of guns."

https://www.local10.com/news/parkland-school-shooting/stoneman-douglas-survivors-get-vocal-on-gun-control

As ever, thanks, mom -

[MyOwnPeace]

6. Here's the child............

teaching the adult.

I truly don't know how to fix this - the "right" is SO far gone that it is going to take a revolution led by wonderful future citizens like Caryl Novell to lead us all out of the darkness of the demented Republican-led destruction of our country.

[Phoenix61]

8. Out of the mouths of babes. nt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

18. clicking your link...

At the time they published:

"Her message to Lahren has been retweeted more than 300,000 times."

That looks significant to this non-tweeter. These survivors are making themselves heard above the thoughts and prayers mantra.

[leanforward]

4. I'm with the girl

Her description parallels what the troops experience. She's become a veteran.

Sad.

[Aristus]

5. Please God, protect her.

I'm sure the NRA has already put her on their hit list, and their loyal disciples are gearing up...

[MyOwnPeace]

7. And I pray.......

that what you say is not so (but I don't put it past them) - hell, IQ45 might even "tweet" that she's some sort of "Commie" (HA! That's a good one - the pot calling the kettle .................... well, you know how that goes).

She and her fellow survivors represent our future. I hope our country won't let them down.

[NBachers]

13. Watch for the "Media Coaching by libruls" accusations

[George II]

9. What a job she did this morning - the whole country, no the whole WORLD now knows who she is!

[world wide wally]

10. Many of these kids are heroes

...too many

[BigmanPigman]

11. The young people have been speaking out and dismissed as "children"

since the shooting by many "adults" on the news and in print. These are young people who have intelligence, passion and drive to change what the so called "thinking adults" have not or could not for 50 years. The younger people made the Civil Rights Movement and laws were passed and enforced. MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) knew damn well that it was an issue about public safety and they also got laws passed and enforced. This is a public safety issue, NOT a 2nd Amend issue and the Founding Fathers never, ever intended this. The guns rights asses know this and use it as an excuse. NO MORE EXCUSES and NO MORE PRAYERS!

NO MORE GUNS, PERIOD!

#ENOUGH #ENOUGH #ENOUGH #ENOUGH #ENOUGH #ENOUGH #ENOUGH #ENOUGH

There is a Nationwide School Walkout on March 14th 10:0]-10:15 AM. All adults should join them and walk out of work in a mass protest and show of support!

https://m.facebook.com/events/1767175080245694/?link_id=6&can_id=bfcadfa948ac07d9bf5b1038644acae5&source=email-enough-4&email_referrer=email_303063&email_subject=enough

The Women's March is supporting and empowering them as well. Join them.

https://www.womensmarch.com/empower/
https://www.womensmarch.com/nraaction/

[colorado_ufo]

14. Wow, Emma Gonzalez!

You have the fire of the 60s!

You have lit the flame again!

[iluvtennis]

15. Very powerful speech by this young lady...she ran down the facts about Trump and his $30Mil from NRA

[duforsure]

17. Emma was speaking truth to power

Her voice is proof its time to demand change. Trump and the GOP have just recruited millions of new future voters for the Democratic party, and these kids will remember what the truth is for generations. Floridians should vote all gop out of office and vote for change, or it won't happen.

[Vinca]

20. Did I hear somewhere that the young people are starting an organization to take on the NRA?

If so, we need to support them in whatever way we can. Our generations have been complete failures on this.