Parkland shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez has become a media favorite in their push for more stringent gun control and she took center stage at Saturday’s March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., with a speech that lasted 6 minutes and 23 seconds, the length of last month’s shooting.
Much of that time, Gonzalez stood silent while tears ran down her face, a powerful moment of political theater that the media could not get enough of. When she spoke, she named the 15 classmates who lost their lives, to include Alaina Petty, who was a U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) member.
This didn’t sit well with Petty’s family, according to a Twitter account that appears to belong to the deceased student’s brother, Patrick, who is also a student at Stoneman Douglas.
“Hey @Emma4Change please stop using my sister’s name to push your agenda, she DID NOT and WOULD NOT support it,” read a tweet from the account.
Hey @Emma4Change please stop using my sister’s name to push your agenda, she DID NOT and WOULD NOT support it
— Patrick Petty (@PatrickPetty23) March 24, 2018
Petty and two classmates, Martin Duque, and Peter Wang, students and JROTC cadets at the Parkland, Fla., high school were awarded the Army’s Medal of Heroism at their funerals.
After posting the tweet asking Gonzalez not to use Alaina’s name, a follow up tweet was shared commenting on one of the “vile” responses, which advocated not only for the death of Petty’s sister, but the brother as well.
“I have scrolled through many responses to this vile tweet. While almost everyone thinks it’s out of line, I haven’t seen a comment that threatens the life of another person the way this tweet does. Interesting #tolerantleft,” the tweet read.
I have scrolled through many responses to this vile tweet. While almost everyone thinks it’s out of line, I haven’t seen a comment that threatens the life of another person the way this tweet does. Interesting #tolerantleft pic.twitter.com/iViOHrjMMw
— Patrick Petty (@PatrickPetty23) March 25, 2018
Gonzalez, who is head of the Stoneman Douglas Gay-Straight Alliance, wore an olive green jacket with multiple patches, to include the flag of the communist Cuban state, as she spoke.
“Six minutes and about twenty seconds,” she said. “In a little over six minutes, 17 of our friends were taken from us, 15 were injured, and everyone, absolutely everyone, was forever altered.”
“Six minutes and twenty seconds with an AR-15 and my friend Carmen would never complain to me about piano practice,” she added. “Aaron Feis would never call Kira, ‘Miss Sunshine.’ Alex Schachter would never walk into school with his brother Ryan. Scott Beigel would never joke around with Cameron at camp. Helena Ramsey would never hang out after school with Max. Gina Montalto would never wave to her friend Liam at lunch. Joaquin Oliver would never play basketball with Sam or Dylan. Alaina Petty would never. Cara Loughran would never. Chris Hixon would never. Luke Hoyer would never. Martin Duque Anguiano would never. Peter Wang would never. Alyssa Alhadeff would never. Jamie Guttenberg would never. Meadow Pollack would never.”
Gonzalez was celebrated by the stars who turned out for Saturday’s event, to include actress Jennifer Hudson, who lost her mother, brother, and nephew to gun violence.
Patrick Petty had plenty of support online, here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Gray__Dreams/status/977641170330357762
Sadly the truth is a casualty when people are pushing an agenda 😔
My thoughts and prayers are with your family 🙏 https://t.co/n7APf4ZIed
— Mary Ping (@marygnip) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/annendress/status/977812283727507456
I can't imagine how mad I'd be if someone used my sister's name to push their agenda. I remember people talking online about "helmet safety" after she passed, and even in my grief I shut that down. https://t.co/mk6U1mAgXp
— Björkus Smarf (@CoachFionnlagh) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/Bennettruth/status/977689542013673472
#MarchForOurLives @Emma4Change @davidhogg111 You disenfranchise victims and their families that don't fit YOUR narrative, but use them to push ONLY your own agenda?
I stand with @KyleKashuv @Big_Hunt98 @Patrickpetty23 #MeadowsMovement https://t.co/BRlLBrSq36— Cole (@ColeFGL) March 24, 2018
The media and the establishment are supporting a girl wearing a communist country flag on her arm to destroy the American Constitution.
Just in case you still doubted they are all traitors. pic.twitter.com/sog9V3DStY
— ??TalesFromTheDadSide?? (@AndrewTowers14) March 24, 2018
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