Emma Gonzalez, a senior at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School — where 17 people were shot and killed two weeks ago — is quickly gaining visibility as a gun violence prevention activist. And on Saturday, the teen’s already powerful impact became even more apparent as she surpassed the NRA in Twitter followers.
Emma Gonzalez, a high school senior, has become one of the most prominent voices calling for gun control legislation following the attack, which resulted in the death of 17 people in Parkland,
This weekend, Twitter users noticed that Gonzalez had more Twitter followers than both the NRA and NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch’s official accounts.
Stoneman Douglas student @Emma4Change now has more Twitter followers than NRA spokeswoman @DLoesch. A movement is happening,” wrote Twitter user Matt McDermott.
The National Rifle Association and other gun-rights organizations spent nearly $55 million in the 2016 election cycle — nearly 19 times the amount spent by groups promoting gun restrictions, according to a tally be the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Students across the country say they are planning to walk out of schools in protest in the aftermath of the shooting this week in South Florida.
The pleas and demands from young voices who survived the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., have brought new pressure to an old debate: gun-control laws.
“We want more gun safety,” said 18-year-old Kevin Trejos, a senior at the school. “It’s a dream. It hasn’t hit me yet. When I see empty desks, I’ll feel it. I’m numb now.”
Organizers of the events say they hope the protests will gain attention and show lawmakers these issues aren’t going away and students, even if they aren’t old enough yet to vote, want change.
“Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” said Kim Russell, Women’s March executive adviser. “The school shootings just keep happening and happening. There’s no escaping it. Congress need to hear from us.”