Donations continue to increase on the Broward Education Foundation GoFundMe campaign to support the victims of the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School located in Parkland, Florida. In a week since the 19 year-old gunman opened fire with an AR-15-style assault rifle, over 29,265 people have rallied and pledged over $1,964,160 of the $2.2M goal to provide relief and financial support to the victims and families. GoFundMe has waived its platform fees on this campaign; as a result 100% of the funds collected after payment processing charges will go directly to the victims and families.
[clickToTweet tweet=”‘Together we can make the biggest impact possible for the Stoneman Douglas community.’ @gofundme #Enough #NeverAgain #StudentsStandUp” quote=”‘Together we can make the biggest impact possible for the Stoneman Douglas community.’ @gofundme #Enough #NeverAgain #StudentsStandUp”] School safety is not a political issue.
“A huge thank you to each and every one of the almost 26,000 donors to this GoFundMe, donors from over 60 countries. We’re deeply grateful for all donations from $5 all the way to $100,000. Each one matters as we gather in solidarity,” posted the Foundation on 21 February. “We’re seeing people get involved in different ways too. For example, children are selling lemonade and donating the money they raise, and people are raising funds together in small groups to make a donation on behalf of their gym or workplace. These efforts are very meaningful and are very much appreciated… together we can make the biggest impact possible for the Stoneman Douglas community.”
As previously reported, Florida Attorney General, Pam Bondi reportedly stated that the state government will pay for the victims’ funerals. Therefore, the funds from the GoFundMe will go directly to the families.
The students, and student supports across the US, are lobbying and marching for new gun laws #NeverAgain #StudentsStandUp:
“I don’t understand why I can still go in a store and buy a weapon of war, an A-R [AR-15 rifle],” pondered Samuel Zeif, 18, according to the New York Times. “How is it that easy to buy this type of weapon? How do we not stop this after Columbine, after Sandy Hook? I’m sitting with a mother who lost her son. It’s still happening.”
[clickToTweet tweet=” School safety is not a political issue. @gofundme #Enough #NeverAgain #StudentsStandUp #MarchForOurLives #crowdfunding” quote=” School safety is not a political issue. @gofundme #Enough #NeverAgain #StudentsStandUp #MarchForOurLives #crowdfunding”]
The Women’s March Youth EMPOWER has called for students, teachers, and allies to take part in a #NationalSchoolWalkout for 17 minutes at 10am on 14 March 2018. In addition, on 24 March, the children and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington, D.C. to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.
“March For Our Lives was created by, inspired by, and led by students across the country who will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action to stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar. In the tragic wake of the seventeen lives brutally cut short in Florida, politicians are telling us that now is not the time to talk about guns. March For Our Lives believes the time is now,” according to the website. “School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying when they should be learning, playing, and growing. The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues. No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in our country.”