On Tuesday morning, the United States added yet more victims to its ongoing list of mass shootings. Parents in Uvalde, Texas had their world turned upside down when news broke of an active shooter in Robb Elementary School. The 21 victims, including two teachers, were allegedly killed by an 18-year-old man named Salvador Ramos, who was killed after the rampage.
As of now, Robb Elementary is the third deadliest school shooting in the country. In its company is the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The pain that runs through Texas today reminded South Floridians of what they felt four years ago.
Many people affected by the Parkland tragedy took to Twitter to express their grief and anger, Parkland survivors and victims’ family members tweeted from a place of personal empathy.
Aalayah Eastmond, survivor
Manuel Oliver, parent of Joaquin Oliver who was killed at MSD
After the Parkland shooting, the students affected by the tragedy organized March for Our Lives, a movement that aimed to “eliminate the epidemic of gun violence.” Another organization, Change the Ref, was founded by Manuel and Patricia Oliver in the honor of their son Joaquin Oliver, a victim of the shooting, and to comemorate all the victims. Both of these organizations came out with statements following the Uvalde tragedy.
With the country reelimng from news of the shooting, people are already calling for action to prevent another gun-violence tragedy.
Lauren Hoggs, survivor
