They demanded change. Students, faculty, and parents, who feared for their lives and lives of their loved ones one week ago all gathered to drill lawmakers with pressing questions about their safety and security, and demanded answers.
On Wednesday night, CNN hosted a special Town Hall at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida with guests Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson, and Rep. Ted Deutch. The National Rifle Association was invited to speak and brought in spokesperson Dana Loesch, who sat alongside Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel towards the latter half of the meeting.
“He had guts coming out here when in fact there is no representative of the state of Florida,” says Bill Nelson about Marco Rubio #StudentsStandUp
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) February 22, 2018
Hosted by Jake Tapper, Stand Up: The Students of Stoneman Douglas Demand Action featured students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas centerstage—directly across from the invited speakers—in front of an audience of 7,000 people, and under national spotlight.
Before opening the floor to questions, Jake Tapper announced that President Trump declined to make an appearance both in person and from the White House. So did Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who declined to appear in person and from the Capitol.
The program began by honoring the 17 victims of the shooting. Congressman Ted Deutch—representative of Stoneman Douglas’ district—addressed the crowd. He emphasized that the people don’t want thoughts, or prayers; they demand action.
“A lot of people have told this community, people from all around the world, that it’s too soon, it’s too soon to get together to have this kind of forum. It’s too soon to talk about preventing another tragedy like the one that struck our community from happening anywhere again. It’s too soon to talk about getting weapons of war out of our communities. It is not too soon. It is too late for the 17 lives that were lost,” he said.
As the only Republican on the panel, Rubio emphasized a message of divisiveness.
“We are a nation of people that no longer speak to each other. We are a nation of people who have stopped being friends with people because of who they voted for in the last election. We are a nation of people who have isolated ourselves to only watch channels that tell us that we’re right. We’re a nation of people that have isolated ourselves politically and to a point where discussions like this have become very difficult.”
The Stoneman Douglas students and participants from the crowd pressed lawmakers on frank questions on whether they will push gun-banning legislation, why they have had to suffer this toll, and will they continue to accept money from the NRA.
Senior Ryan Deitsch called for those students that lost their lives due to negligence.
“We would like to know why do we have to be the ones to do this? Why do we have to speak out to the (state) Capitol? Why do we have to march on Washington, just to save innocent lives?”
#StonemanDouglasStudent to @marcorubio : Active shooter drills have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember… Why do we have to be the ones to march on Washington, just to save innocent lives?
— Rudabeh Shahbazi (@RudabehShahbazi) February 22, 2018
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter had fallen to the shooting at that school, wanted to call out higher administration for their lack in advocacy.
“Sen. Rubio, I want to like you. Here’s the problem. … Your comments this week and those of our President have been pathetically weak,” he said. Guttenberg called for Rubio to work towards gun-restriction legislation.
Rubio replied, “I’m saying that the problems we are facing here today cannot be solved by gun laws alone.”
The NRA has given significant donations to various political candidates, including Rubio, who received two donations of $4,950 during the 2016 election from the NRA’s political arm, The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund.
Senior Cameron Kasky presses Marco Rubio with a question that erupts cheers from the audience: “Can you tell me right now you will not accept another donation from the NRA in the future?”
Cameron Kasky asks Rubio to tell his friend that he will survive and make it to serve in the military. He also asks Rubio to stop accepting donations from NRA. #StudentsStandUp
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) February 22, 2018
“The influence of these groups comes not from money, it comes from millions of people who support the agenda. You can ask that question and I can say people buy into my agenda. Ultimately our goal is to move forward,” said Rubio.
On the other hand, Marco Rubio echoed moderate policies. A teacher who sheltered dozens of terrified students during the shooting asked him why some believe it is a good idea for teachers to be armed, to which he responded “First, I don’t support that.” He went on to note his proposition of raising the legal age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21, which goes against the NRA’s view.
“Why don’t we have more funding to protect ourselves,” asks the #StonemanDouglas freshman who dreads returning to the school building next week. #StudentsStandUp
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) February 22, 2018
National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch stated “I’m not just fighting for my kids. I’m fighting for you. And I’m fighting for you,” looking at the students in the crowd. She was asked by prominent Stoneman Douglas student-activist Emma Gonzalez about making it harder to obtain semi- and automatic weapons.
“I don’t believe this insane monster should have gotten his hands on any weapon,” Loesch said of the shooter. “I want everyone to think about this: It is not federal law for states to report convictions… and I wish this network would have reported it more like other networks.”
She went on to ask if the crowd would like to prevent mentally ill people to get guns in the future, adding “they have to be in the system.” Loesch noted, however, that the shooter passed a background check.
“None of us support people that are crazy…getting their hands on a firearm,” says Dana Loesch, NRA spokeswoman. #StudentsStandUp
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) February 22, 2018
Broward County Sheriff Israel interjected Loesch, saying he knew she was standing up for the NRA.
Sheriff Scott Israel, with about 30 years of experience, says we should not wait until people become a danger to themselves and others. #StudentsStandUp
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) February 22, 2018
“But you just told this group you were standing up for them,” he said. “You’re not standing up for them until you say I want less weapons.”
“Our kids have started a revolution. I’m proud and I’m inspired and I’m proud to be part of #NeverAgain,” says an AP World History from #StonemanDouglas. She questions Loesch in the form of an AP style question. #StudentsStandUp
— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) February 22, 2018
The two-hour-long Town Hall ended with the reading of a poem written by one of the victims—Alex Schachter—read by his father, followed by an original song, “Shine,” and performance by Stoneman Douglas’ drama club students.
