Thanks to principal Jamaal Bowman for sending me this story about Parkland student leader Emma Gonzalez:
Emma says:
“Adults are saying that children are emotional. I should hope so—some of our closest friends were taken before their time because of a senseless act of violence that should never have occurred. If we weren’t emotional, they would criticize us for that, as well. Adults are saying that children are disrespectful. But how can we respect people who don’t respect us? We have always been told that if we see something wrong, we need to speak up; but now that we are, all we’re getting is disrespect from the people who made the rules in the first place. Adults like us when we have strong test scores, but they hate us when we have strong opinions.”
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a18715714/protesting-nra-gun-control-true-story/
Emma’s Twitter account is @ Emma4Change
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Emma, you are a wonder. You are also right and wrong about adults.Test scores are not everything except in the eyes of beancounters. You and your activist friends will be replacing the rule-makers and pompous adult who think that you do not deserve to have a mind of your own. Do not spend a lot of time thinking about people who do not respect you and your activist friends.
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She is absolutely intelligent and brilliant. I’d take her for President, Senator or Representative… [no, I like Viscolsky (D-IN). I’ll keep him.] She speaks with a knowledge that most of us don’t obtain until years of experiences and tons of books and magazines.
I want her voice to be heard. She isn’t afraid to speak out for those who are suffering.
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Emma and the other Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS teenagers, young adults, who are speaking up are amazing. They are the one silver lining to come out of this whole bloody horror. They are smart, passionate, articulate and well spoken. They are a true inspiration to so many of us who are discouraged and disillusioned with our whole political process and especially as relates to the proliferation of guns.
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Reading this made my spine tingle. It feels a little stronger.
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I love and respect these kids and support them 100%. The adults putting them down make me very angry. I wonder sometimes why they are so upset by the students. These kids are our future, thankfully.
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as the political pendulum has been swinging far, far to the right, may the next generation see a chance and a need to bring it far back in the other direction
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It sure has been lingering out there for some time. Political physics don’t have verifiable laws, unfortunately.
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Emma provides inspiration and gives me hope.
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You have every right to speak out..YOU were there, THEY were not. All humans are emotional at one time or another….emotional intelligence is MORE important that cognitive intelligence and that will guide you through the path ahead of you. You are a remarkable young woman and please know that millions and millions of Americans, myself and my family stand firmly with you.
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I posted this at her facebook page:
Dear Emma, you GO, girl. A youth movement can absolutely turn this country around. We did it in the late ’60’s, w/non-stop demonstrations against the VNWar, culminating in LBJ stepping down even tho he could have won re-election handily: he knew that war was a shame and blot on his legacy despite the good things he’d done. And we knew it was a doomed effort unsupported by history or politics – supported only by the mindless war-machine which took profit at the cost of our friends’ & loved ones’ lives & that of millions of VNese – all the while selling the public via tortuous faux patriotism just as NRA does today.
It took the death of our friends to bring us into the street – senseless death promoted by our govt. Doubled-down by Nixon in ’70 when he expanded the war to Cambodia, & tolerated states using nat’l guard to fight anti-war protestors, resulting in death of unarmed youth. Year upon year of organized campus protests and marches on DC is what it took to force legislators accede to the will of the people. You and your contingent – your generation – are smart, educated, motivated. We are counting on you.
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There is always a spark that creates student activism. These kids make me more confident each day that we will take back America from our reactionary Congress and deranged president.
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Emma,
You are LOVED by hundreds of thousands. You are gifted and powerful. Don’t let anything or anyone STOP you ever! You have an inner light that cannot ever be extinguished.
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Emma, when you are done with college, run for Congress!
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You shine a light on a society desperate for common sense and common decency for all. Keep it shining.
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Just how vile has our society become? I kid who survives a mass killing is now receiving death threats for standing up to Senator Rubio. I can’t imagine the horror of what these innocent young adults are going through. Our Great Leader is enticing the scum to come out from under their rocks.
…………………………………..
Death Threats Force Parkland Shooting Survivor to Leave Facebook
By Luke Barnes, ThinkProgress
26 February 18
Cameron Kasky says he has received “graphic death threats.”
At a town hall on Wednesday night, the survivors of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, made Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) squirm with a series of pointed questions about his support for the Second Amendment. One question that drew particularly loud cheers came from Cameron Kasky, when he askedRubio, “Can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the NRA?”
But while the crowd at the town hall may have forcefully backed Kasky, the 17-year-old has been subject to a different reception online, where he says he’s encountered vicious smears and death threats.
https://thinkprogress.org/parkland-shooting-survivor-forced-off-facebook-6fc397ab2b9f/
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She is one hell of a young lady, and I wish her Godspeed.
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Dear Emma you are not responsible for other peoples behavior nor are you required to please them. Say nothing don’t let it stop you. I used to tell my son when the school called me in for his calling the principal an ASSHOLE “look you can think anything you want. I think the principal is an ASSHOLE…Its just rude to say it to his face. ” In your case the NRA the President and the whole Republican party is a bunch of ASSHOLES feel free to tell them to their face. Don’t worry about small minded opinions keep your eyes on your prize.
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