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Never Again MSD

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Never Again MSD
FormationFebruary 15, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-02-15)
FounderCameron Kasky
PurposeGun control advocacy
Location
Key people
Emma Gonzalez
David Hogg
Alex Wind

Never Again MSD (also known by the hashtag #NeverAgain) is an American student-led organization that advocates for tighter regulations to prevent gun violence.[1] The group was formed in the aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in which 17 people were murdered by a shooter armed with an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle.[2] The group started on social media as a movement "For survivors of the Stoneman Douglas Shooting, by survivors of the Stoneman Douglas Shooting" using the hashtag #NeverAgain.[3] The group has demanded legislative action to prevent similar shootings in the future and has vocally condemned U.S. lawmakers who have received political contributions from the National Rifle Association (NRA).[4][5][6][7]

The group was founded by about twenty students who survived the Stoneman Douglas shooting. Among its most prominent members are Emma Gonzalez, Alex Wind, Cameron Kasky, David Hogg, Jaclyn Corin, Sarah Chadwick, Sofie Whitney, and Delaney Tarr.[1][8][9] "MSD" refers to the school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.[1] The group is tech savvy and have demonstrated that public relations is one of their strengths;[1] according to one report, the group added 35,000 Facebook followers over a three-day period.

Founding

The group was formed by Kasky and his friends in the high school drama club in the first four days after the shooting.[10] They said that they worked quickly to take advantage of the national media attention given to the shooting and its aftermath.[10]

Kasky said that he invited a few of his friends over to his house after the shooting, and he came up with the name Never Again in his pajamas while the group stayed up all night to make plans.[11] By the next day, February 15, they created social media accounts and announced a nationwide protest on March 24. Over the next three days, the group gained over 35,000 followers on Facebook.[12]

Activism

The group worked with congresswoman Deborah Wasserman Schultz to arrange a bus trip to the Florida state capitol in Tallahassee to voice their concerns with lawmakers.[10]

The group held a rally on February 17, 2018, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, which was attended by hundreds of supporters.[13] Emma Gonzalez was noted for her impassioned speech rebuking "thoughts and prayers" from the government and the President.[14][15]

"March for Our Lives", a nationwide demonstration which will include a march in Washington, D.C., is planned for March 24, 2018. The march will be conducted in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Everytown for Gun Safety.[9][16][17]

Cameron Kasky stated in a CNN article: "We can't ignore the issues of gun control that this tragedy raises. And so, I'm asking -- no, demanding -- we take action now."[18]

On February 20, 2018, 100 students travelled to Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, to meet with lawmakers and demand immediate action. The trip was organized with help from Florida Senator Lauren Book.[19][20] Several students watched from the state capital building gallery as the Florida House voted 71 to 36 against considering a bill to ban assault-rifle and large-capacity magazines.[21][22] More than 3,000 people attended a rally at the capital on the following day.[23]

Response

Actor George Clooney and his wife, lawyer and activist Amal Clooney, donated $500,000 to Never Again MSD.

George Clooney and his wife Amal donated $500,000 to the organization to help with the cost of organizing the March for Our Lives demonstration, which they will also participate in.[24] Following the Clooney's announcement, other celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Steven Spielberg pledged to match the $500,000 donation.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Seelinger, Lani (February 19, 2018). "What Is Never Again MSD? Parkland Survivors Are Standing Up To Politicians & The NRA". Bustle. Retrieved February 19, 2018. ... multiple students have banded together to take gun violence prevention into their own hands ... Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, David Hogg, Alex Wind, Jaclyn Corin, Sofie Whitney, and Delaney Tarr, among others, and they're prepared for a fight ... calling their movement Never Again, and the "MSD" added at the end of their Twitter account refers to the name of their school...We are sick of the Florida lawmakers choosing money from the NRA over our safety ... holding what they're calling the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C. on March 24. ... the students behind it are tech savvy, they've fully educated themselves on the issue, and their updates on Twitter show that PR is already one of their main strengths. ...
  2. ^ Lowery, Wesley (February 18, 2018). "'No more guns!': Florida students rally to denounce political inaction after 17 killed in school shooting". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Turning Anger Into Activism: School Shooting Victims Say 'Never Again'". CBS Miami. February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Students Who Survived Florida Shooting Want Politicians To Know They're Angry". All Things Considered. NPR. February 16, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  5. ^ Burch, Audra D. S.; Mazzei, Patricia; Healy, Jack (February 16, 2018). "A 'Mass Shooting Generation' Cries Out for Change". The New York Times. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  6. ^ Holpuch, Amanda (February 17, 2018). "Post-Columbine generation demands action on guns: 'We don't deserve this'". The Guardian. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "US: School shooting survivors demand stricter gun laws". Al Jazeera. February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  8. ^ Barrett, Devlin; Dawsey, Josh (February 18, 2018). "Florida students plead with Congress: It's about the guns". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Cooper, Kelly-Leigh (February 18, 2018). "In Florida aftermath, US students say 'Never Again'". BBC. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Witt, Emily (February 19, 2018). "How the Survivors of Parkland Began the Never Again Movement". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  11. ^ Smidt, Remy (February 20, 2018). "Here's What It's Like At The Headquarters Of The Teens Working To Stop Mass Shootings: Just days after surviving a mass shooting, a team of teens is trying to start a revolution from their parents' living rooms". BuzzFeed. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  12. ^ Lowery, Wesley (February 17, 2018). "Students denounce political inaction after Florida shooting -- 'This isn't just a mental health issue! He wouldn't have harmed that many students with a knife!'". The Herald. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  13. ^ Chavez, Nicole (February 18, 2018). "Florida school shooting survivors turn grief into action". CNN. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  14. ^ Bailey, Chelsea (February 17, 2018). "At rally, Parkland shooting survivors rail against gun laws, NRA and Trump". NBC News. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  15. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (February 17, 2018). "Artists React to Florida School Shooting Survivor's Powerful Speech at Gun Control Rally". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "March for Our Lives". marchforourlives.com. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  17. ^ Lam, Katherine (February 18, 2018). "Florida school shooting survivors plan march demanding end to gun violence". Fox News Channel. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  18. ^ Kasky, Cameron (February 15, 2018). "Parkland student: My generation won't stand for this". CNN. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "Turning Anger Into Activism: School Shooting Victims Say 'Never Again'". CBS Miami. February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  20. ^ Klas, Mary Ellen (February 18, 2018). "Parkland students to march on the Capitol this week to demand change to gun laws". The Miami Herald. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  21. ^ Hutchinson, Bill (February 21, 2018). "Assault-rifle bill voted down in Florida as shooting survivors look on in Capitol". ABC News. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  22. ^ Sanchez, Ray; Boyette, Chris; McLaughlin, Eliott (February 20, 2018). "Florida Legislature rejects weapons ban with massacre survivors en route to Capitol". CNN. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  23. ^ "Update: More than 3,000 people rally at the Capitol; number growing". Tallahassee Democrat. February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  24. ^ Culbertson, Alix (February 20, 2018). "George and Amal Clooney donate $500k to Florida shooting survivors' Never Again gun control campaign". Sky News. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  25. ^ Stack, Liam (February 20, 2018). "Clooney, Winfrey and Spielberg Donate Money for March Against Gun Violence". The New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  26. ^ Rothman, Michael (February 21, 2018). "George Clooney, Oprah and Spielberg donate $500,000 each to Washington march against gun violence". ABC News. Retrieved February 21, 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Never_Again_MSD&oldid=827007813"