Florida Student Who Gave Emotional Gun Control Speech Now Has More Followers Than NRA
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It's been less than two weeks since Nikolas Cruz entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, and killed 17 people. Since then the young survivors of the massacre have led calls for stricter gun laws in the US.
The teenagers begun a powerful campaign just days after the horrendous attack. Speaking two days after the shooting Emma Gonzále, 18, gave an impassioned speech during an anti-gun rally in Fort Lauderdale.
A number of high-profile celebrities including Laverne Cox and Zendaya tweeted parts of Emma's emotional speech, so she decided to set up a Twitter account @Emma4Change to help spread the message.
And, in just ten short days, the teen gained more followers on Twitter than the National Rifle Association. People are commending the teen for her hard-work and dedication:
As of today, @Emma4Change now has more followers than the @NRA. It happened in less than two weeks.
- Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 24, 2018
This is a movement.
This is the future.
Change is now. pic.twitter.com/8yHSpq9Zac
Well it's OFFICIAL Folks Emma Gonzales @Emma4Change has more followers than @NRA in less than 1 week! :tada::blue_heart::flag_us::blue_heart::tada:#ChangeIsHere #NeverAgain #TheResistance #BlueWave2018 #BoycottNRA #SundayMorning #MarchForOurLives #TheKidsAreOurFuture :tada: pic.twitter.com/bVYD3BBMjs
- TiGGY (@TiGGyZTweetZ) February 25, 2018
This shooter picked the wrong school, the wrong kids. NRA, your stronghold over us will end. Bravo Emma Gonzales!https://t.co/M3UKkKa7tO
- Randi Mayem Singer (@rmayemsinger) February 17, 2018
The NRA may meet their match in Emma Gonzales and her friends.If the GOP stands with the NRA, another generation of Americans will hate them
- Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) February 18, 2018
At the time of writing, Emma had 785,000 followers, the NRA has 570,000.
Emma, alongside a number of her classmates, are prompting a debate across America about gun control, a thorny issue in the US and not usually one so eloquently argued by high-school students.
Many social commentators believe that Emma and her pals could be the ones to bring about change. Despite their young age, or maybe because of it, the students have been catapulted into the spotlight and gained the support of celebrities including Lady Gaga and George Clooney and his wife Amal who pledged $500,000 to help the campaign.
A gentle reminder that all we are aiming for here is stricter gun laws that make it harder for people to get guns (because it shouldn't be easier than getting a drivers license) and the removal of Military Grade Weapons from Civilian Society. #BanAssaultRifles #GunContolNow
- Emma González (@Emma4Change) February 25, 2018
Twitter made the decision to verify the accounts of the students involved in the March for Our Lives movement; a mass demonstration planned for the 24 March, which will see thousands of US citizens take to the streets to call for tighter regulations on arms in the country.
Featured Image Credit: CNN
Topics: School shooting, Florida, US News