Parkland Student Blasts GOP for Sending ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ While Protesting Over ‘A Rainbow Wedding Cake’
Speaking with CNN host Anderson Cooper, a survivor of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that claimed the lives of 17 students, lambasted Republicans who sell their votes to the NRA — taking specific aim at his Republican U.S. Senator and governor.
According to Cameron Kasky, there were many heroes at the Florida high school that former student Nikolas Cruz shot up on Wednesday, — but he sees no heroism in the words of Republicans who only offer their “thought and prayers.â€
“I’ve never been to a school after a shooting like this where I’ve met so many students talking about issues of guns when so many politicians are saying now is not the time to talk about the it,†host Cooper began.
“Everybody has done an amazing job responding to this: the Stoneman Douglas community, the Parkland community — everyone is supportive and grieving and inspired,†Kasky replied. “We’re going to use this to try to make something better out of it.â€
“Do you think change is possible in terms of the kind of change you want?†the CNN host asked.
“Everything I’ve heard where we can’t do anything and it’s out of our hands and it’s inevitable, I think that’s a facade that the GOP is putting up,†He replied before turning on the NRA. “After every shooting the NRA sends a memo saying ‘send your thoughts and prayers.’ This is the only country where this kind of thing happens. I’ve heard from other people, they don’t have gun drills. We had to prepare extensively at Stoneman Douglas. This is something that can be stopped and will be stopped.â€
“There is a segment of this society that will shrug this off and send their thoughts and prayers but march for hours over a rainbow wedding cake†he added.
“Do you worry, a week from now when the media moves on, that this will become another in a long line of tragedies?†Cooper pressed.
“That was the thought I had. I’m not worried,†Kasky stated. “This can be stopped — this needs to be stopped.â€
“For those saying ‘thoughts and prayers and this is not the time to to talk about guns…’†Cooper asked.
This is the time to talk about guns,†Kasky immediately replied. “But there’s much more that can be done, much more that needs to be done and much more that people like Sen Marco Rubio and Governor Rick Scott are not doing. It’s scary to think these are the people who are making our laws when our community just took 17 bullets to the heart. It feels like the only people who don’t care are the people making the laws.â€
Watch the video below via CNN:
Â
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.