Parkland school shooting survivors to speak Tuesday in SC

Survivors of the deadly mass shooting in a Parkland, Fla., high school will speak Tuesday in Charleston.

Several survivors of the Feb. 14 shooting will take part in a town-hall event with local student activists at the Sottile Theatre at 7 p.m.

The students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are on a nationwide tour encouraging young people to register to vote and get involved in the political process.

The group is coordinating the event with Lowcountry Students for Political Action, a group that formed out of the March for Our Lives event, calling for improved school safety and stricter gun laws in North Charleston, Columbia and other cities nationwide.

Jacob Gamble, a recent graduate of Summerville’s Ashley Ridge High School and co-founder of the Lowcountry group, said the tour selected Charleston for an event because of the 2015 shooting at Emanuel AME Church that killed nine worshipers. “That was one of their main motivations for coming here.”

The Parkland students are scheduled to meet with family members of the Emanuel shooting victims before Tuesday’s event, according to the Charleston City Paper. Gamble said church members also will be in attendance at the town-hall meeting.

Organizers hope the outrage over mass shootings will carry over into the November election. Gamble said the Lowcountry group already has registered more 100 new voters at his alma mater, Ashley Ridge, this year, one of several events aimed at registering younger voters.

Tuesday’s town-hall meeting is open to the public.

“Whether you’re for or against gun reform, leave your preconceived notions about these kids at the door,” he said.

This story was originally published July 30, 2018 at 2:05 PM.