11-Year-Old Naomi Wadler Gives Powerful Speech at March For Our Lives: ‘Never Again’ For Black Victims Too
11-year-old Naomi Wadler says she speaks at Washington DC rally to "represent the African-American girls whose stories don't make the front page," and "who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of potential" https://t.co/ElIJSw1bvk pic.twitter.com/wJe4GkWDtj
— CNN (@CNN) March 24, 2018
The March For Our Lives movement shined a bright spotlight on gun violence across America like never before during a nationwide demonstration on Saturday, as millions took to the streets to listen to the young people adding their voices to the debate over gun control.
The student survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school used their unprecedented access to national media to highlight shootings in urban communities, where minorities are disproportionately affected by gun violence. 11-year-old Naomi Wadler, a Virginia resident who organized a walkout at her school to mourn the 17 lives lost in Parkland, delivered a powerful speech representing “the African-American women who are victims of gun violence, who are simply statistics instead of vibrant, beautiful girls full of potential.”
“For far too long, these black girls and women have been just numbers,” she said in the speech, which can be seen above. “I am here to say never again for those girls too.”
Adler said her school walkout lasted 18 minutes to honor the Parkland victims, and “added a minute to honor Courtlin Arrington, an African-American girl who was the victim of gun violence in her school in Alabama after the Parkland shooting.”
Wadler’s speech was immediately hailed by audiences, as well as on social media, being tweeted by Sen. Kamala Harris (D—CA) and other famous politicians and celebrities.
“I’m here to represent the African American girls whose stories don’t lead on the evening news. I represent the African American women who are victims of gun violence who are simply statistics instead of vibrant beautiful girls full of potential.” -Naomi Wadler #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Xd1rmaRYiz
— Andy (@AndyintheA) March 24, 2018
Naomi Wadler is an incredibly poised 11-year-old. “We know it’s only seven short years until we have the right to vote.”
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) March 24, 2018
"My friends and I might still be 11, and we might still be in elementary school but we know," says Naomi Wadler. "We also know that we stand in the shadow of the Capitol, and we know that we have 7 short years until we too have the right to vote." https://t.co/jujbxM0M4i pic.twitter.com/FJTMnQzpR4
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 24, 2018
[image via screengrab]
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