The Moments From CNN’s Parkland Town Hall That Everyone Needs to See
Images via CNN Politics News Parkland Shooting
Wednesday evening’s town hall gave students, parents and faculty a chance to speak to those in power about last week’s tragedy in Parkland, FL. They did not disappoint. Emotions and tensions ran high last night, but those who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School put lawmakers, lobbyists and the nation as a whole on notice, broadcasting the message that inaction on gun control and school safety is no longer an option. In case you missed it, or just want to relive some truly empowering highlights, here are the moments you need to see from CNN’s Town Hall, as compiled by Think Progess’s Aaron Rupar.
Rubio tells father of slain student who challenged him to admit that “guns were a factor” in last week’s mass shooting that he is going to “repeat what I said” — there are more factors than gun control. #StudentsDemandActionpic.twitter.com/HbRy8pIcSZ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
The crowd is not here for Marco Rubio’s defense of AR-15s. Tons of boos. #StudentsDemandActionpic.twitter.com/EK9gCNDJj6
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Rubio scores an own goal when he says the assault weapons ban “would literally ban every semi-automatic rifle that’s sold in America” and the crowd erupts in cheers pic.twitter.com/VfIqxCloyo
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Marco Rubio tells Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Cameron Kasky he “supports the 2nd amendment” after he’s asked if he’ll pledge not to accept any more money from the NRA.
Crowd isn’t happy. pic.twitter.com/Erv1yGThJ8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Rubio’s defense of continuing to accept NRA donations is that “there’s money on both sides of every issue in America” and that donors to him “buy into his agenda,” not the other way around pic.twitter.com/jneHCLI06R
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
After student Emma Gonzalez asks her a question, NRA spokesperson @DLoesch receives some boos. She tells students the NRA is against “insane monsters” having guns.
“And I’m not just fighting for my kids, I’m fighting for you. I’m fighting for you,” she says, as boos percolate. pic.twitter.com/AaCDPOfKRS
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel gets a huge ovation after he tells Dana Loesch that “you’re not standing up for [these students] until you say, I want less weapons.” pic.twitter.com/bq9xFfA4An
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Dana Loesch’s talking point that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz should never have been able to obtain his AR-15 legally because he’s “crazy” is not going over well with the #StudentsDemandAction audience pic.twitter.com/Ir34hbEbR7
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Oof. Loesch gets big boos after she tells high school students that they should be able to buy AR-15s because otherwise they might get raped. pic.twitter.com/NWSsOuzbwJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
My God. NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch is now publicly attacking Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel for allegedly dropping the ball and not stopping Nikolas Cruz before the Parkland shooting.
Israel is taking Loesch’s insinuations calmly. pic.twitter.com/s7cGqp6MKG
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch is out here lecturing the mother of a teacher who was slain last week by a gunman with an AR-15 that actually, the Founding Fathers intended to protect AR-15s with the 2nd amendment. pic.twitter.com/9Magi9Q9GO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018
Loesch is booed off the stage after she closes the CNN forum by arguing that mass shootings are a law enforcement problem, not a guns problem pic.twitter.com/5xMonHhBy2
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 22, 2018