George Clooney Posts Heartfelt Note to Parkland Students on the Eve of March for Our Lives
Photos by Jeff Spicer/Getty, Don Juan Moore/GettyOn the eve of March for Our Lives, Hollywood megastar George Clooney wrote an encouraging letter to the students of the Parkland shooting.
Editors-in-chief of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s student newspaper Emma Dowd, Lauren Newman and Rebecca Schneid took over The Guardian for the day. As part of their takeover, the student journalists asked various politicians and celebrities for interviews. Clooney and his wife Amal were some of those asked, but they turned down the interview. As a substitute for the interview, Clooney sent them the letter filled with Dad-like pride below.
Dear Emma, Lauren and Rebecca,
Thank you for your note and congratulations on the incredible work you and all of your fellow students are doing to make the country a safer place.
It’s terrific that you’re editing the Guardian. It’s a stellar newspaper and they must feel honored to be working with you.
Amal and I are 100% behind you and will be marching in DC on the 24th, but we both feel very strongly that this is your march. Your moment. Young people are taking it to the adults and that has been your most effective tool. The fact that no adults will speak on the stage in DC is a powerful message to the world that if we can’t do something about gun violence then you will. The issue is going to be this, anyone you ask would feel proud to be interviewed by you but it’s so much more effective if it’s young people.
You could talk to a dozen kids like the young kids from Chicago and LA that Emma met with. You could take over the Guardian and make it tell the stories of children by children. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to point to this moment and say it belongs to you. You certainly should do what you want but that would be my hope for you.
Amal and I stand behind you, in support of you, in gratitude to you.
You make me proud of my country again.
Thank you.
All the best,
George
Behind the scenes, the Clooneys have been major supporters of the Mar. 24th march in Washington, DC giving $50,000 back in February.
Outside of the Clooneys, the young ladies managed to secure interviews with Senators Bernie Sanders and Marco Rubio. Hopefully, the backing from major political and pop culture figures will aid in making some headway on a sensitive and serious issue.