On the anniversary of the Parkland tragedy that occurred one year ago today at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offers the following:
“Today marks a difficult day for our state, one of renewed heartbreak for the families and loved ones of the lives lost in Parkland. It’s the anniversary of an unspeakable tragedy, an act of absolute evil. But, today is also a beacon of hope and a symbol of how righteousness can rise from tragedy — how people forced to endure life’s worst horrors can come together for a cause greater than oneself.
“The movement birthed from this tragedy has grown into something larger than Parkland, a movement on behalf of all victims, all communities, all families affected by gun violence. Because it’s not just our classrooms that have become vulnerable to gun violence – it’s our neighborhoods, streets, movie theaters, concerts, and houses of worship.
“This is an issue that affects all of us. The solutions must involve all of us. We must come together to end the ceaseless cycle of gun violence. On this day to celebrate love, we hold each other a bit tighter, as Floridians and Americans. We mourn with Parkland and recommit ourselves to the ideals embodied by a community whose courage knows no bounds.”
