After the Florida school shooting that took place this year on Feb. 14, there has been a sudden outcry from students all across the nation. Upset with the lack of response and concern from the United States government, students have taken it upon themselves to make sure their voices are heard. Leading protests at schools to marching peacefully, students want the world to know that the lack of control in the states is not okay. In the past two weeks, students from Pleasant Valley high school joined this movement by creating #NeverAgainQC. Below is an interview the social media executive of this group, junior Nikki Chang.
Q: What is #NeverAgainQC?
A: #NeverAgainQC is a student led organization connecting people of ideologies and backgrounds. We are focused on educating students and discussing mass shootings in schools.
Q: How did this group start?
A: This movement started with the survivors of the Parkland shooting who created the movement. It was Vashi Chintalapalli who brought it to Pleasant Valley high school.
Q: What is the goal of this group?
A: I’d say that the goal is to help prevent anything like this from happening again. Students shouldn’t go to school in fear of their lives and if the adults aren’t going to do anything then the students are going to stand up. There needs to be stricter laws on guns in this country and it shouldn’t take another school shooting to prove that.
Q:How do you plan to achieve this goal?
A: It all starts with educating people that this is an actual problem. Once more people care then the rest of the country will follow.
Q:What challenges do you expect to face?
A: It’s really difficult to get adults to take us seriously. They look at us like we are some silly kids playing pretend when we really aren’t. We are scared at school and sadly our age invalidates that fear.
Q: How do more people join?
A: People join by signing up in certain classrooms that have the signup sheets. From there, they can be added to a group chat on GroupMe. This is where we can discuss issues that have piqued our concern or suggest ways to spread the movement.
Whether one is for or against gun control, it is undeniable that the students in this movement care a lot about the future. #NeverAgainQC continues to grow and shows the community that students really can make a difference. If students wish to support this movement they can stay active through @NeverAgainQC on Twitter and Instagram. Now is time for students to be heard.
