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Lawyers' Committee

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights

Parkland students and gun owners got into a heated debate that ended in tears and hugs.

Some of the March for Our Lives student activists have been traveling across several cities as part of their #RoadToChange tour, which is focused on getting people to vote in the 2018 midterm elections and support gun safety measures.

At a stop in Dallas on July 7, they were speaking to students at Paul Quinn College.

The Parkland activists were well received by the students attending the town hall, but a number of armed protesters showed up outside the venue.

It was an understandably tense moment. After all, these students were only recently removed from the tragic mass shooting at their high school in February 2018 that killed 17 people and thrust them into the national spotlight.

However, some of the Parkland students, including David Hogg, decided to step outside and directly engage with the protesters.

"The reason we’re here today isn’t to take anybody’s guns away. It's to listen," Hogg said.

When people saw Hogg and a gun owner discussing their perceived differences, a small but powerful breakthrough happened.

The two sides talked through their disagreements, and the conversation ended with some tears and lots of hugs.

Fellow Parkland survivor Matt Deitsch chronicled the exchange on Twitter, noting that after one of the protesters began talking with Hogg, a few others approached and joined what turned into a 90-minute conversation.

[rebelmouse-image 19398033 dam="1" original_size="639x388" caption="Image via Matt Deitsch/Twitter." expand=1]Image via Matt Deitsch/Twitter.

[rebelmouse-image 19398034 dam="1" original_size="639x292" caption="Image via Matt Deitsch/Twitter." expand=1]Image via Matt Deitsch/Twitter.

There was plenty of debate, but even in discussing one of America's most intense, partisan issues, the two sides found common ground.

[rebelmouse-image 19398035 dam="1" original_size="605x172" caption="Image via Matt Deitsch/Twitter." expand=1]Image via Matt Deitsch/Twitter.

"This is the most American thing I've ever done," Deitsch noted one protester said. "Thank you so much for helping us understand."

The gun debate remains contentious, but an overwhelming number of Americans actually agree on commonsense reforms.

Talking about those areas and cutting through the noise can lead to real progress.

As Hogg himself said on Twitter after his dialogue with the protesters, "Be open to conversation with those who don't agree [with] because you might learn something."

The Parkland students continue to lead the way on sensible gun reform. While many want to portray each side of debate as extreme, there's nothing controversial about saving lives and keeping people safe. What might be most shocking is how much we have to agree on when we get together and talk about it face-to-face.

It's finals week and Hunter Pollack is missing his biggest ally: his sister.

High-school and college students know how stressful finals week can be, especially if you're cramming for tests that can have a lasting impact on your academic careers.

A few years ago, whenever Hunter found himself in these situations, he could always count on his sister, Meadow. Her encouragement, often in the form of inspirational text messages, helped him get through times of self-doubt and overwhelming stress.

But this week, Meadow isn't here to offer that encouragement. She was one of the 17 victims in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, an 18-year-old high school senior who was described as having "a smile like sunshine."

Heading into finals week, Hunter shared some of those text message on his Twitter account, writing:

"Finals week, and you’re not here to give me the motivation that keeps me going. I don’t know how I cope without our daily texts. miss you."

[rebelmouse-image 19534546 dam="1" original_size="596x660" caption="Image by Hunter Pollack/Twitter" expand=1]Image by Hunter Pollack/Twitter

[rebelmouse-image 19534547 dam="1" original_size="500x654" caption="Image by Hunter Pollack/Twitter" expand=1]Image by Hunter Pollack/Twitter

Nothing could replace Meadow, of course, but an informal community of strangers online responded to Hunter's tweet in the most inspiring way.

The response was overwhelming, with strangers stepping in to offer support and encouragement.

Echoing the sentiments of Meadow, people began sharing acts of kindness in their response to Hunter's tweet:

"You got this."

"You've got a whole country rooting for you. I know it feels so painful sometimes and so completely empty at others, but you can get through this."

"You are so strong, Hunter. Push through in her honor — millions of people are supporting you from behind. You got this. "

"You're so strong bro. I'm in this with, as well as many others. Good luck on your finals, you got this. It's for Meadow. Make her proud."

[rebelmouse-image 19534548 dam="1" original_size="642x710" caption="Image credit: Hunter Pollack/Twitter" expand=1]Image credit: Hunter Pollack/Twitter

We've learned so much from those affected by the Parkland shootings, including how to support them during their times of need.

The Parkland survivors have shown us so much already, offering courage and compassion in the face of criticism and doubts over their movement.

They've shown how our nation's youth can rally behind a cause and capture the hearts and minds of a nation.

But they're also human.

Hunter's tweet, and the response from people online, including many who probably disagree with his politics, shows the best in all of us.

We continue to be inspired by those affected by the Parkland shootings — but sometimes they need our support and inspiration just as much as we need it from them.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High students returned from spring break this week to a find a new safety precaution in place: mandatory clear backpacks.

To many students, the move — implemented after a shooter killed 17 people on their campus in February — fails to address the real root cause of gun violence: a lack of gun control.

"They’re just an illusion of security,"senior Kyra Parrow said, blasting the backpacks.

"My new backpack is almost as transparent as the NRA’s agenda," student Lauren Hogg mocked on Twitter. "I feel sooo safe now."

(Of course, policies like this are nothing new to students in primarily black and brown schools.)

There's one aspect about the clear backpacks, however, that might do some actual good, according to some students.

The see-through backpacks may shine a light on the fact that, yes, many students need to bring menstrual hygiene products like tampons or sanitary pads to school. And no one should feel ashamed for doing so.

"I remember the humiliation I felt if I started my period unexpectedly and had to whisper to classmates asking for a pad," Ayana Lage recently wrote for Bustle. "I eventually started going to the nurse's office instead of telling people I was menstruating."

The stigma is real. But hopefully not for much longer at Stoneman Douglas.

"The only positive about these backpacks is that maybe, hopefully, the stigma around periods will be removed," wrote student Delaney Tarr. "Also, that Cameron now knows how expensive tampons are."

The "Cameron" that Tarr is referring to is her classmate Cameron Kasky.

On April 3, Kasky shared a photo of himself carrying a clear backpack stocked with tampons. The gesture was Kasky's way of standing in solidarity with those who may feel embarrassed that now would be revealing when they needed to use the products to their classmates.

His smiling photo — captioned simply with #MSDStrong — quickly went viral. As of publication, Kasky's pic garnered over 60,000 likes and nearly 10,000 retweets.

"Every damn time I think I can’t love these young people more than I do, they do something to leave me even more in awe," Twitter user Kathleen Smith wrote.

"Yass Cameron," one classmate replied to Kasky's photo. "If only I had the confidence to do that." Kasky responded, "Here for you if you need anything... tampons and beyond."

And as it turned out, Kasky did learn about how expensive tampons are, just as Tarr had hoped.

I mean, seriously — for those of us who don't use menstrual hygiene products, they really can get pricey. It doesn't help that they're often taxed as though they're a luxury item — and not a basic necessity — too.

According to California assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, folks in her state who get periods spend, on average, $84 a year on tampons and pads. For those working hard just to make ends meet, that's a costly burden.

In a follow-up tweet, Kasky explained purchasing tampons was certainly an eye-opening experience. "This stuff is expensive," he wrote. "Steps must be taken to make these health products easier to access."

Things may seem scary nowadays — for a million different reasons.

But if the articulate, determined, big-hearted teens in Parkland, Florida are any indication, the future looks surprisingly bright.

"It started with gun control," Lage wrote for Bustle. "But students have made powerful statements about media representation and now period stigma. It's clear that these kids are smarter and more sensitive to current events than some adults."

We should listen to what these amazing kids have to say.

The well-known Parkland activists have done remarkable work, but there is another group of students who aren’t being as heard.

On March 28, 2018, black students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School held a press conference to discuss their frustration with being left out of the conversations about gun violence and school safety.

Making up 11% of the school's population, black students are in a tough spot. Having gone through the same traumatic experience as the other students at the school, black students should also be at the forefront of these conversations around gun violence in America. Instead, they’ve largely been invisible on a national scale, and their white peers have noticed.

When asked what the biggest mistake in media coverage of Parkland has been, David Hogg, one of the more visible activists, told media outlet Axios, "Not giving black students a voice," noting that a significant portion of his school comprises black students. "But the way we’re covered doesn’t reflect that. It's disgusting," he added.

At the press conference, only about 10 media outlets covered the students conference, most of which were local.

In addition to asking for more inclusive media coverage, many students brought up a pressing concern at the high school that's arisen since the mass shooting. Black students take issue with the increase of law enforcement at the school — and they have good reason to.

Black students across the nation are disproportionately affected by over-policing in schools.

Recently, many districts across the nation have made large strides to reduce the police presence. With a larger in-school police force, black students are worried about being racially profiled and unnecessarily disciplined.

"It’s bad enough we have to return with clear backpacks," 17-year-old Parkland student Kai Koerber said. "Should we also return with our hands up?"

Increasing police staffing could be damning for an already vulnerable population. As student Tyah Amoy discussed, law enforcement hasn't been kind to black students or communities. As outrage continues to mount after the brutal shooting of Stephon Clark by police officers in California, black students are adamant that police violence and brutality be protested and addressed in the same way as other forms of gun violence.

"Black and brown men and women are disproportionately killed and targeted by law enforcement," Amoy said. "These are not facts I can live with comfortably."

The Parkland students are doing incredible work in the face of constant social media attacks, slandering from the NRA, and attacks from adults who are seemingly hell-bent on arguing with children.

But, the students must remember that activism needs to include the voices of everyone involved. When making calls for anti-violence policies, it’s imperative to make sure those policies will actually reduce violence for everyone.

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

Advocating for the safety of all children can be complicated, but there are plenty of resources to make it easier.

Numerous black organizations have laid the groundwork to create policies that benefit children from different schools, backgrounds, and communities. Organizations like Campaign Zero, The Movement for Black Lives, and the Black Youth Project offer ideas and ideas for anti-violence policies.

The Parkland students are truly showing us just how much power youth voices can have in our government and society. We do ourselves a greater justice when we make sure all youth voices are apart of those conversations.

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A letter from Barack and Michelle Obama following the Parkland shooting has proven to be a powerful exposition about how the student survivors inspire them.

And the Obamas' response to the Feb. 14 attack in turn has stirred the political activism of Majorie Stoneman Douglas High School students in a way that's caught the attention of the nation.

The private letter to students dated March 10 was released to the public on March 21. The timing of its release comes just days before the March for Our Lives rallies are set to take place on March 24 around the nation.

"Not only have you supported and comforted each other, but you’ve helped awaken the conscience of the nation, and challenged decision-makers to make the safety of our children the country’s top priority," they wrote.

They didn't shy away from reminding students how hard advocating for gun reform can be.

Most reactions to the Parkland students' activism has been positive. But many have made attacks on their character and motivations, which is an understandably difficult thing for anyone — much less a teen — to endure. And perhaps more importantly, the students are becoming increasingly aware of just how difficult it is to move federal lawmakers into action, even when the overwhelming majority of voters are behind their cause.

The Obamas know that feeling all too well; the former president was unable to pass any meaningful gun violence reform while in office. "There may be setbacks; you may sometimes feel like progress is too slow in coming," they advised. "But we have no doubt you are going to make an enormous difference in the days and years to come, and we will be there for you."

Even though they've been out of the White House for more than a year, the Obamas are quietly continuing to play the role of "first family" in many situations.

Even most supporters of President Donald Trump would acknowledge that empathy is not his strongest suit. That has left the Obamas in an interesting place, where they occasionally find themselves unofficially playing the roles of comforters-in-chief.

They've clearly been very careful to not get in the way of Trump's role as POTUS. But sometimes the nation just needs a collective hug or pat on the back, and that's something both Michelle and Barack are exceptionally good at.

[rebelmouse-image 19346756 dam="1" original_size="1500x1173" caption="Photo by Pete Souza/Official White House Photo via Share America." expand=1]Photo by Pete Souza/Official White House Photo via Share America.

The Obamas' letter is a necessary reminder that we should encourage students to use their voices.

Student activism has a long history in the United States, from opposing the Vietnam War to more recent causes like Black Lives Matter. You don't even have to agree with the Parkland high schoolers' cause to know it's vital that we give our nation's youth the time and space to find their respective voices.

As the Obamas wrote, "Throughout our history, young people like you have led the way in making America better."

After all, the children (or in this case, teens) are literally our future. And a society of informed and engaged citizens is one that's better for everyone.

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In "The Tonight Show's" first full episode since the Parkland high school shooting, Jimmy Fallon praised the student survivors and explained how he plans to help:

After expressing sympathies for the students and teachers who lost their lives when a 19-year-old gunman tore through the school on Feb. 14, Fallon explained why he's been so in awe of the student survivors.

"I think what the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are doing is unbelievable," he began his monologue.

Fallon continued (emphasis added):

Cameron Kasky, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, addresses other teens after a nationwide walkout to protest gun violence. Photo by Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images.

In his monologue, Fallon said he'll be joining Parkland students at the March for Our Lives alongside other activists and celebrity supporters.

In the wake of the shooting — which left 17 people dead and injured several others — Parkland students have rallied a sustained push for common sense gun control solutions. They've been praised for their bold truth-telling during media interviews, passionate speeches demanding change, and social media activism calling on politicians to act.

"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," student Emma Gonzalez told a crowd of listeners in a rousing speech that's since gone viral.

Parkland student Emma Gonzalez. Photo by Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas students are also largely behind the planning and executing of the March for Our Lives demonstration scheduled for March 24 in Washington, D.C. — a protest pushing for legislative answers to gun violence. The demonstration has gained support from several stars, including Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, and Fallon.

"I stand behind you guys, and I will be marching alongside you with my wife and two children in D.C. to show our support," Fallon concluded in his monologue. "To every one of you who is speaking out, thank you. I'll see you March 24."

Learn more about and support the March for Our Lives.