David Hogg delivers inspiring testimony at BU
Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School shooting survivor and activist David Hogg was the speaker for the first night of the 2018/19 Donald Lecture Series on Tuesday in Centennial Theatre.
Hogg’s life changed drastically on February 14, 2018, when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire with an AR-15 in the Parkland, Florida high school, killing 17 students and staff members and injuring 17 others.
Only 18 years old, Hogg delivered a poignant testimony to the Bishop’s University students. He explained that although he heard the gunshots that day, hearing his little sister cry uncontrollably after four of her closest friends passed away was a sound he would never stop hearing. He discussed the importance of associating logical facts with emotional stories, because appealing to a person’s human side ultimately mattered more than delivering the facts. He pleaded the need for young voters to register and to make a change in their communities, as he highlighted that in the U.S., only 10% of campaign budgets are allocated towards voters between the ages of 18 and 29.
Along with several of his classmates, including Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, and Alfonso Calderon, Hogg cofounded the March for our Lives Movement, a youth-led gun violence prevention group that organized one of the largest mass mobilizations in the history of the U.S.A. on March 24, 2018. He is also an active member of Never Again MSD, a social media movement and student-led gun control advocacy group and co-wrote #Neveragain: A New Generation Draws the Line with his younger sister Lauren, which quickly became a New York Times bestseller.
The last six months have been incredibly busy for Hogg, who, along with Parkland classmates, embarked in a nationwide bus tour dubbed March for our Lives: Road to Change after graduation. They made 50 stops in 20 states to rally young voters and campaigned to end gun violence, meeting impacted families and communities to deepen his knowledge on gun safety. They also visited every congressional district in Florida. Their activism focused on building a platform that encouraged youths to vote in the U.S. midterm elections on November 6, to ensure that congressional candidates who are funded by the National Rifle Association (NRA) do not get elected.
When asked about his stance on consumerism, given that money fuels the NRA to stop gun control, Hogg answered that there is a weakness to every business, and that is the power of boycotts. For example, he and other members of Never Again MSD staged a “die-in” protest in a Publix supermarket in May 2018. They called for a boycott against Publix, for its $670,000 in contributions to pro-nra gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam’s campaign. Following the protest, Publix suspended its support towards Putnam.
Hogg became a target for many NRA supporters, who threatened him and accused him of being a “crisis actor,” as he publicly advocated for gun control and new legislations in response to the increasing gun violence in the U.S.A. Hogg assured the public that he respected the Second Amendment and the right to own guns legally. However, he specified that reasonable gun control was crucial. For example, Hogg mentioned regulations prohibiting those suffering from mental illness from acquiring guns, raising the federal age of gun ownership and possession to 21 rather than 18, banning all bump stocks, implementing universal background checks, and prohibiting those who commit domestic violence from owning guns. The Parkland shooter was able to legally buy his assault weapon even though 45 reports were made against him and his family to the Broward Country Sheriff’s office.
Along with his fellow classmates, Hogg has demonstrated that today’s youth can truly instigate change. He pressed everyone in Centennial Theatre on Tuesday to never fall into complacency, because although hope and inspiration can keep us going, they are not concrete actions. He urged his audience to get involved in their communities and make the change they want to see in the world.
Those who wish to help in the fight against gun violence or donate to the cause can find more information at https://marchforourlives.com/ or text “CHANGE” to 977-79.