Hope after Parkland massacre
Joaquin Oliver loved baseball, and every summer he’d travel to ballparks with his father. Fenway Park was his favorite. He loved Big Papi, the big crowds and the traditional singing of “Sweet Caroline” during the seventh inning stretch. “My kid loved this city. Oh my God. We came here to that ballpark and had fun,” said his father, Manuel Oliver. “I remember Joaquin and me debating about where would you have the best hotdog in any ballpark and that was right here — Fenway Park watching the Red Sox playing.” Yesterday, Manuel was back in Boston to unveil a powerful billboard he designed bearing his son’s face and the chilling words: “If I had attended high school in Massachusetts instead of Parkland Florida, I would likely be alive today.” Joaquin, 17, was one of 17 people killed Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a former student armed with an AR15, a rifle he had bought legally in Florida that was made at Smith & Wesson in Massachusetts. A local nonprofit, Stop Handgun Violence, and Change the Ref, an organization created by Joaquin’s parents, held a press conference in the shadow of the billboard at the corner of Boylston and Dalton streets. Boston police Commissioner William Gross, Attorney General Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III were all there, touting the state’s tough gun laws and calling on people to vote Tuesday. But it was Manuel’s words that hit home. Manuel and his wife, Patricia, fled violence in Venezuela 15 years ago and chose peaceful Parkland to raise their son and daughter. “We were, as parents, trying to give our family the safest place to live,” Manuel said. “We were trying to give Joaquin everything he deserved. I think we made the right choice by moving to America. I don’t regret that. I think now we have a problem here that needs to be solved here.” Manual and Patricia plan to vote for the very first time next week after becoming U.S. citizens last year. They had a strong message for Florida voters. “Anyone that is being supported by the gun lobby or the NRA is not qualified to solve the problem,” Manuel said. “Actually, he or she is part of the problem.” Manuel had on his son’s size 11 Nike sneakers. His son wore them playing basketball the night before he was murdered. They’re now decorated with colorful bracelets from groups fighting gun violence. “I want to feel what it feels like to walk in his shoes,” Manuel said. A couple weeks ago, Manuel told his wife Joaquin was going to help the Sox win the World Series because “he’s ready to go to Boston with a strong message.” It was the first time Manuel watched a World Series without his son by his side. “And it wasn’t easy,” Manuel said. “But the fact that it ended up putting together those two very powerful things — city of Boston, the Red Sox team and my son — it became a wonderful experience.”