Parkland Survivors Relive Trauma During FSU Mass Shooting

Shared Trauma of School Shootings

• 💔 For some Florida State University (FSU) students, Thursday's mass shooting was not their first experience with such violence, as they are survivors of the 2018 Parkland massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD).
• ⚡ The sound of gunfire and images of panicked students at FSU brought back a familiar and gut-wrenching feeling for Lorie Alhadaf, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 MSD shooting.
• 😔 Fred Gutenberg, who lost his daughter Jamie in the Parkland shooting, expressed that "America is broken" and lamented that many of her friends who survived Parkland are now facing similar trauma at FSU.

Lingering Pain and Frustration

• 🎗️ Manny Oliver, whose son Waqen was killed in the MSD shooting, believes the persistence of gun violence stems from a refusal to address it, stating, "people are not listening."
• 📣 Oliver, an advocate for gun control, feels frustrated but not surprised by the recurring events, highlighting the ongoing need for action.
• ✊ Parents who lost loved ones are continuing to turn their pain into purpose, with some, like Lori Alada, serving on the Broward County School Board, and others, like Manny Oliver, participating in marches for gun reform.

Reaffirmation of Commitment

• 🤝 The events at FSU reaffirm the commitment of these parents and advocates to their work for gun reform, underscoring the necessity for their continued efforts.
• 📌 Josh Gallagher, an MSD survivor now attending FSU, shared his distress on X after experiencing another shooting, writing, "I never thought it would hit close to home again."