They became celebrities in a way no one would ever expect or want: for witnessing a shooting at their school that ended the lives of 17 people.
Ever since the shocking Valentine’s Day massacre earlier this year in Parkland, Fla., Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors have been speaking out against gun violence.
This summer, they have taken their cause on the road, in a bus tour across the United States – visiting some 75 cities over two months to disseminate their call for stricter gun control laws.
Caitlyn Nojiri, 20, cheers as the Parkland Florida high school shooting survivors and others, take the stage during the Road To Change tour in Irvine on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parkland Florida high school shooting survivors Ryan Deitsch, left, and David Hogg, along with activist Kelly Choi, stop in Irvine during the Road To Change tour for stricter gun laws on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
SoundThe gallery will resume insecondsRev. Toia Rankin, left, with Christ Our Redeemer Church in Irvine, comforts Hollie Mileski who became emotional while speaking to the Parkland Florida High School shooting survivors who were on tour promoting stricter gun laws in Irvine on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rabbi Arnold Rachlis of University Synagogue, left, and the Rev. Mark Whitlock of Chris Our Redeemer Church in Irvine introduce participants in the Road To Change tour for gun control on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Harley Rouda, who’s running against Dana Rohrabacher in the 48th Congressional District acknowledges support for him during the Road to Change tour in Irvine on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
About 1,500 people attend the OC stop of the Road To Change tour in Irvine on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
About 1,500 people attend the OC stop of the Road To Change tour in Irvine on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parkland Florida high school shooting survivors Ryan Deitsch, left, and David Hogg, along with activist Kelly Choi, stop in Irvine during the Road To Change tour for stricter gun laws on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Caitlyn Nojiri, left, and Bex Whitehead, both 20, applaud as the Parkland Florida high school shooting survivors and others, take the stageduring the Road To Change tour in Irvine on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Parkland Florida high school shooting survivor David Hogg stops in Irvine during the Road To Change tour for stricter gun laws on Saturday, July 21, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Show Caption of Expand
Among the 20 founders of “Never Again” are Emma Gonzalez, David Hogg, Ryan Dietsch, Cameron Kasky and Jaclyn Corin – whose now familiar faces regularly appear in the news.
On Saturday, July 21, the crew made a stop in Orange County, starting with a town hall at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, to be followed by a candlelight vigil and bonfire at the Huntington Beach Pier.
Taking the Irvine shift of their jam-packed itinerary, Hogg and Dietsch joined other young activists – including several from Orange County – on stage to discuss gun violence and how to curb it.
More than 1,000 attendees filled the auditorium, with an overflow of hundreds more in the lobby.
“This is not about swinging districts blue or swinging districts red,” Hogg said, “but about swinging then orange” – the color symbolizing gun reform. “Democrats take money from the NRA, too. We want to hold all politicians accountable.”
Clearly, however, most of the crowd leaned Democrat. Harley Rouda, who is running against longtime U.S. Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, was greeted with rousing applause upon arrival.
Dietsch recalled an anecdote about an awkward moment shared with Darrell Issa. While visiting the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Dietsch and his cohorts crossed paths with the Republican representative from San Diego.
“He started to quote the Second Amendment – incorrectly,” Dietsch said. “Then he ran ahead of our group to avoid getting on the same elevator.”
The biggest misconception about the group’s mission is that the activists “want to take away people’s guns,” Dietsch said.
“We’re not trying to take guns from hunters but from domestic abusers,” he said.
Following up, Hogg added, “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a universal background check.”
Traveling around the country and speaking with leaders on both sides of the political aisle, Hogg said, helps him to understand how deeply gun ownership is embedded in American culture – especially in rural states such as Alaska.
When asked by an audience participant about the “mixed message” of marksmanship classes in Orange County high schools, Hogg said he supports “teaching gun safety.”
Others on the panel disagreed. “I would rather be taught history than how to use guns,” said Chicago resident Arieyanna Williams.
In answer to concerns addressed by Williams, Hogg surmised that the Parkland tragedy has received more attention than inner-city violence “because most of us are upper-middle-class white kids.”
“It is important to use our voice to advocate for communities of color,” he said.
Dietsch pronounced Irvine’s gathering a success – starting with the fact that people showed up.
“If we can create these spaces for conversation,” he said, “we are already doing 300 percent more than Congress.”
Source: OC Register
Parkland’s now-famous school shooting survivors hold town hall in Irvine
More from Local NewsMore posts in Local News »
- Huntington Beach councilmembers pledge to fight state’s lawsuit over city’s voter ID measure
- Concern over newly shifting Palos Verdes Peninsula ground brings out hundreds for town hall meeting
- Death row inmate transfers to Chino prison spur safety concerns with mayor, police
- Man arrested in alleged fraud scheme for failing to deliver food trucks in IE and Central Valley
- How will DisneylandForward affect the Anaheim resort district?
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- 4 Inland men sentenced to prison for roles in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
- Chicago’s response to migrant influx stirs longstanding frustrations among Black residents
- In reversal, more areas allow high-speed police chases
- How 4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana’s high holiday
More from Top Stories BreezeMore posts in Top Stories Breeze »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Sen. Laphonza Butler isn’t just keeping a seat warm in Washington
More from top stories ivdbMore posts in top stories ivdb »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Death row inmate transfers to Chino prison spur safety concerns with mayor, police
More from Top Stories LADNMore posts in Top Stories LADN »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Studio City freeway crash that killed LA Fire Department recruit not classified as a hit-and-run
More from Top Stories LBPTMore posts in Top Stories LBPT »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- These women are creating community at the Grand Prix of Long Beach
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Man gets 11 years for DUI crash that killed 3 returning from Bible study in Placentia
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- Huntington Beach councilmembers pledge to fight state’s lawsuit over city’s voter ID measure
More from Top Stories PEMore posts in Top Stories PE »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- 4 Inland men sentenced to prison for roles in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
More from Top Stories PSNMore posts in Top Stories PSN »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Sen. Laphonza Butler isn’t just keeping a seat warm in Washington
More from top stories rdfMore posts in top stories rdf »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Death row inmate transfers to Chino prison spur safety concerns with mayor, police
More from Top Stories SGVTMore posts in Top Stories SGVT »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Sen. Laphonza Butler isn’t just keeping a seat warm in Washington
More from top stories sunMore posts in top stories sun »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Death row inmate transfers to Chino prison spur safety concerns with mayor, police
More from Top Stories WDNMore posts in Top Stories WDN »
- Amid valedictorian protest, USC scrubs outside commencement speakers, honorees
- Need speed humps, bumps or cushions on your street to slow down drivers?
- Earth Day: A look at what’s being done to decrease plastic use
- California’s fast food prices rose 7% before new $20 wage, No. 1 jump in US
- Sen. Laphonza Butler isn’t just keeping a seat warm in Washington
Be First to Comment