1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: Hi guys, It's Sammy Jay and welcome to a very 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: special episode of als Bureau podcast. This is actually our 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: first virtual episode that we take UM due to the coronavirus, 4 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: and I hope all of you are safe and practicing 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: social distancing UM. This is a very personal and important 6 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: episode launching today. I am so honored to have three 7 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: members of the Mark for a Lives organization on my podcast. 8 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: Today is actually the two year anniversary of the Mark 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: for Our Lives demonstration that was one of the largest 10 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: protests in American history. I talked to student members David Hogg, 11 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: Aeriel Hawks and executive director Alexis Confert. We talk a 12 00:00:47,920 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: lot about your plans for what the misconceptions are about 13 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 1: gun controlled, what it's like running and creating of movement, 14 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: well being college, and so much more. I really hope 15 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: you guys enjoyed this episode and I cannot wait for 16 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: people crazy times we're living in with the coronavirus. How 17 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: is everybody doing it? Sucks? It's gonna be honest. Besides 18 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: the fact that you're now on online school, you are 19 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: super busy because March is the two year anniversary of 20 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: the March for a Lives demonstration which just took the 21 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: country by storm. First of all, it is crazy that 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: it has been two years, and in honor of the 23 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: two year anniversary, I know that you're launching your new campaign, 24 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: Our Power, just to start. What's the goal of this campaign? 25 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: The main goal is to get young people engaged and 26 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 1: out to like more legist later site. To be quite 27 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: fran quick, you care about us in the first place, 28 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: because UM, I think we can all realize that young 29 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 1: people are a sect of society sadly that aren't really 30 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: cared about in today's political environment. UM, even though I 31 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: would argue that we're the ones that should be cared about, UM, 32 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: just as much as anybody else, if not even more 33 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: than ever it else, because we're the future of the country, UM. 34 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: And I would argue that we're probably the most valuable, 35 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: the most important asset for our country to protect, because 36 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: we are the future of the United States. What is 37 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 1: it like trying to launch a campaign in the midst 38 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: of the coronavirus and having to do everything remotely. UM. 39 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: It hasn't been easy, that's for sure, and we've had 40 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: to figure out how to lay on some of our 41 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: other pillars of organizing. I guess you could say, um, 42 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: within the activism environment, luckily through different social media platforms 43 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: and being a movement that was really born on social media, 44 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 1: I would stay in the first place. Uh. It's been 45 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: somewhat of a tough transition, but not nearly as tough 46 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: as I think many other organizations are having to go 47 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: through right now, and luckily as young people were really 48 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: adapted being on social media, UM and scaring uh politicians 49 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: and creating some good trouble on there through Twitter. You're 50 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: very good at that, by the way. Oh, thank you. 51 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. Yeah. I I just try my best 52 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: to spell it correctly most the time, which is difficult enough. 53 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 1: But yeah, I struggle with that all the time. Yeah. 54 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: Twitter really needs an editing feature. Maybe that can be 55 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:11,519 Speaker 1: the next thing to implement. Yeah, exactly, that's what I think. 56 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: I know, you guys are also implementing a new piece plan. 57 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: How did this plan come about? Um? So the plan 58 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: really came about the idea of where it really came about, 59 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: I would say, um, at the beginning of last fall. Um, 60 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: when uh, you know it was it had been a 61 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: year after the midterms and we're really thinking, you know, 62 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: how do we come up with a comprehensive thing for 63 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: young people to stand behind as a way of reducing 64 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: gun violence and having a pretty major impact because you know, um, 65 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: it feels like a lot of the time that Congress 66 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 1: to an extent, just as this legislation piece by piece, 67 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:52,800 Speaker 1: and we don't want this to be one lot at 68 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: a time. We want we want this to be a 69 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: set of policies within one much larger law to be 70 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: implemented because we know that, you know, there isn't any 71 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: one law specifically that's going to be able to stop 72 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: all gun violence. It's going to have to be a 73 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: comprehensive set of those laws. Um. And we wanted to 74 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: put that together so that we could say instead of saying, 75 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: you know, we support universal background checks and um, you know, 76 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: disarming domestic users and individuals like that. Uh, we just 77 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: support this broad policy platform known as the Peace Plan 78 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 1: for you to implement as a comprehensive plan to address 79 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: gun violence and set on an audacious goal of cutting 80 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 1: gun violence and half over the next ten years, which 81 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: would be about two lives. That's insane. Yeah, what was 82 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: it like creating a plan like that? Um, it was 83 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:43,480 Speaker 1: pretty Uh, it was a challenge for sure, because UM things, 84 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:45,720 Speaker 1: there's a lot of weight and there's a lot of 85 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 1: responsibility that you take on UM as an organization when 86 00:04:49,520 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: doing that and setting out this because you know, UM, 87 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: it's easy to see on the TV and just look 88 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,599 Speaker 1: at the it's easier to look at what happens after 89 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: these instances of gun violence and just see a number, 90 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: as oftentimes we do, of just the number of people 91 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: have died from gun violence or have died in a 92 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 1: same mass shooting or just shooting. UM. What I would 93 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 1: argue is actually much harder, though, is to is for 94 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: a lot of people to remember that these aren't numbers, 95 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: these are human beings in the first place. And there's 96 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: a lot of responsibility UM that comes with that, and 97 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 1: there's a lot of weight, UM, and a lot of 98 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: thinking that we had to put into it. UM. So 99 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: the process really just looked like talking to a bunch 100 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: of researchers because I myself, as you know, a college freshman, UM, 101 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: all right, I am not very qualified to write that myself. UM. 102 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: So we talked to a bunch of researchers around the 103 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: country and basically ask, you know, what are the best policies, UM, 104 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 1: if implemented today, regardless of the political climate, could there 105 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: be not only reduce mass shootings, but everyday gun violence, 106 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: unintentional shootings and gun suicides as well. Um, because we 107 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 1: know that this isn't just an issue that affects that 108 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: that is about mass shootings already one type of shooting. 109 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: It's about anybody that dies as a result of a gunshot. Um. 110 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: And Yeah, we talked to those researchers, asked them, and 111 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: then brought the policy and announced it something that people 112 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: could really get behind and be like, you know, you know, 113 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: ex congressman, like you want to know what we support, 114 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: just look up the Peace Plan. It's right here. Like 115 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: these policies, it's it's honestly not that hard to understand. 116 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: This does not have to be an issue. And literally 117 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: every other country or every other more developed country besides 118 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 1: from the United States, has figured out how to do this, 119 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 1: and you can too. I think it's so wonderful how 120 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: far this movement has come in the past two years. 121 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: What is it like creating a piece of legislation and 122 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: talking to politicians and really, in my opinion, helping to 123 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 1: change history. Also, how can people of any age get 124 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:54,400 Speaker 1: involved to help? Yeah, I think a lot of it. Um. 125 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: It's a big learning curve, that's for sure. It's been 126 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: a big it's been a big experience. But I say 127 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: what I've learned the most it is just honestly, um, 128 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: you know, going out there initially instilled. To this point, 129 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 1: it's just a bunch of piste off teenagers um, and 130 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 1: college students, which I would argue are some of the 131 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: best people his Berkeley speaking getting ship done in politics. UM. Uh. 132 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 1: You know, it's great because you're able to just say, 133 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: you know, like you know, this is wrong, everything is wrong, 134 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 1: you're doing all of this wrong. Um. But it's also 135 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 1: scary because you realize, to be frank, how many how 136 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: many I would say, elected officials sadly just do not 137 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: realize the weight of the responsibility that they have. And 138 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: it's kind of ironic because we always say, we always 139 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: see a bunch of stuff, or we always hear from 140 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: older people, politicians included, you don't know what you're talking about, 141 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 1: your irresponsible, you know, you're a teenager and stuff like that. 142 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: And what I've come to realize is actually it's quite 143 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: the opposite. A lot of the time. It's especially when 144 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:56,360 Speaker 1: it comes to elected officials. A lot of the time, 145 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: it's piste off teenagers and college students that care significantly 146 00:07:59,840 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: more than they do about the actual effects of their 147 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: legislation in the first place. UM. And it's only invigorated 148 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: me more to want to get more young people into 149 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: politics and get politically involved. UM. And I would say 150 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: for anybody that wants to get involved, to get started, 151 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: you can just go to Mars foral Lives dot com 152 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: um and either join a local chapter or sign up 153 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: for any of the silet ter um or set up 154 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: your own chapter. So this question is for Ariel and David, Um, 155 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: what is it like balancing everything just being in college? 156 00:08:34,720 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: And I'll let I'll let the college senior take this one. Earl. Yeah, 157 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: Like David mentioned, I'm a college senior, so I got 158 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: I don't want to really say like the benefit, but 159 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: I had the experience of being in college before the 160 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: shooting happened, so I had already worked out, like, and 161 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: I work while I'm at school, So I had already 162 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 1: worked out the balance of like doing like managing school 163 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,600 Speaker 1: life and then also managing whatever else I wanted to do. 164 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: So I kind of had that benefit definitely being a 165 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: board member and being involved with an organization like March 166 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: of Our Lives is like an added number of UM hours. 167 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: It's a it's a lot more work. But um, since 168 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: this is a student led organization, we are all very 169 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: understanding with each other and like understand that, like we 170 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: can't do everything, and that we can't be everywhere, and 171 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: sometimes you know, like the best we can do with 172 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: stand OUTO tweet or repost something on Instagram or something 173 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 1: like that, and that you know, our work for the day. 174 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: But um, it also gets kind of hard. And I 175 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: know there's something I experienced the last semester, not committing 176 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: myself to everything, alexis what's that like? Because I know 177 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: you've worked for a bunch of other people before, So 178 00:09:56,679 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: how has that been, um creating this whole plan since 179 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 1: last ball, Well, I will say entering into the space 180 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: where there is such commitment from the young people who 181 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: have founded it. I mean, it's an amazing question you 182 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: asked them about how they're balancing their time, because every 183 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: single time I've talked to David or Ariel and like, Okay, 184 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: what are you doing for fun this week? It's just 185 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: for you for your mental health. It's not school, it's 186 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: not March for our lives because you know, I wanted 187 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: to be in the space where I just saw such 188 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: incredibly dedicated young people. You know, I've been an activist 189 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 1: since I was in college, and see, um, the ideas 190 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: excited me. Like walking into a room where there were 191 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 1: already so many ideas, so much passion behind it, and 192 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: thousands of students who are ready to go, you know, 193 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 1: run right into it and take this on. Gives you 194 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: a lot of energy to do any sort of planning. 195 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: And so you know, my goal and the team's goal 196 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: is how can we harness their energy, really clear the 197 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: lanes for them so that when we are calling David 198 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 1: or Ariel somebody else and quite franklies constant dialogue. And 199 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: when we are we are like a family. We are 200 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: very involved with our student board members, which David and 201 00:11:04,760 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: Ariel both are, our student Congress, which is over twenty 202 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: young people from across the country somewhere in schools and 203 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: we're not in school, um, but they're all elected by 204 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: their peers, and the really an advisory board to me 205 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 1: and the team to keep us accountable. Um yeah, I 206 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: mean making history is not easy, just to say the 207 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: police and do you guys enjoy college do you guys 208 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: go to parties? Do you guys do that or is 209 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: it just close friends? And what's the balance within that. 210 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's for me, it's pretty cold in Boston, 211 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: so I don't like going outside very much. UM. But 212 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: for me a lot of the time, it just comes 213 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: down to building a routine around your activism UM and 214 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: not letting your activism become your life, which is extremely 215 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: difficult when you care so much about something UM and 216 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: what our main focus here really and I think part 217 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: of what Mixes Special as an organization specifically built is 218 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: a place for were and buy young people UM, which 219 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: I know we've had to Uh, we've had to work 220 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: through a lot because obviously having a budget called students 221 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,840 Speaker 1: work full time isn't the most sustainable things. So what 222 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: we try to do is like after kids come out 223 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 1: of college, UM, like immediately after they come out of college, 224 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: trying to hire them to work on our field team 225 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: UM or when they're in college as with our our 226 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: regional directors, hiring them as part time as part time 227 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: staff that are working about twenty hours a week managing 228 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: several hundred chapters across the country as college students UM. 229 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: So that we try to avoid those all nighters. Um. 230 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: But yeah, it's a it's a very it's been, I 231 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: will say the hardest. One of the hardest things about 232 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: this job, aside from everything in the job specifically, is 233 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 1: learning how to gain a work life balance. So one 234 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: of the things that I've always been curious about is 235 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: how did you guys come up with any march for 236 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: our lives? Honestly, to be frank with you, I don't 237 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 1: even really remember because I was doing so much pressed 238 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: at that time. That wasn't my role. Um when we 239 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: started doing that, I think it was just more than anything, like, um, well, 240 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: we're doing a march, and you know it's around kids 241 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,719 Speaker 1: not dying in like schools and in their communities or 242 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 1: in their homes. Um. Like, I honestly don't really even know, 243 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: because like one, even if I was in the room, 244 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 1: I like, I don't even remember, just like it's just 245 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: a blur because we're sleeping when we're doing the march 246 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: and everything we're sleeping, I would say, an average at 247 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: most of five hours to four hours a night, and 248 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: traveling every single day to a different state and things 249 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: like that for a month straight or a month and 250 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: a half straight. Uh, and your memory is just completely 251 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: done when when that happens, which is where we're trying 252 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: to avoid. Yeah, and I can't imagine what it's like 253 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:55,440 Speaker 1: to go through this traumatizing event and then you're recounting 254 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: it the next day, two people impressed, and you're doing 255 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: that over and over. At this point when people ask 256 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:05,120 Speaker 1: you about it, is it like, does it still feel 257 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: like you're there when you talk about it, or just 258 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: does it feel like a distant story you tell? UM? 259 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 1: It honestly just kind of to me, it feels a 260 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 1: lot like UM at the time, like I was obviously there, 261 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: but I really saw myself almost in the role of 262 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: a student journalist or almost like some kind of correspondent 263 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: or something. Um, not knowing if, like you know, the kids, 264 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: if me and my classmates were going to die at 265 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: that time. UM. So it's obviously triggering to an extent. 266 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: And I don't like to focus on it too much either, 267 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: because it's there's so many other stories to tell around 268 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: gun violence, you know, I'm just one of them, and 269 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,720 Speaker 1: you get asked about it all the time still and 270 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: it's two years later. What is that? What is that 271 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: toold that takes on you mentally, it's pretty significant, and 272 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 1: I really try to balance it by focusing not letting 273 00:14:56,920 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: my like trauma, um my innovate me in that way, 274 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: but really try to have have hope for a better 275 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: future where those things never have have to happen again, 276 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: and a just future where no child has to live 277 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 1: in fear of gun violence in their school or in 278 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: their community. Because we live in a in a country 279 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: with a government that prioritizes equitable justice, which is what 280 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: I would define his freedom, um, to communities that have 281 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: been so disproportionately affected by purposeful historical injustices, be it 282 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: political injustice that results in school shootings, racial or economic 283 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: injustice that results in everyday shootings and gun suicides and 284 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 1: all these other different factors or forms of gun violence. UM. 285 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: But I really try to focus on, you know, the 286 00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: future and having keeping that hope and positivity as hard 287 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: as hard as it is to find in this alive 288 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: because um to be frank like, if it was if 289 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: it was negativity or you know, hopelessness that ended, these 290 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: things are just sadness that would ended gun violence. Gun 291 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: violence had ended a long time ago, um, but sadly 292 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: we're still here and we still have a mission to 293 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: do because kun violence still exists, but it does take 294 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: a toll, and I think a large part of it 295 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: two comes down to checking room with yourself and having 296 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: people around you that allow you to step back and 297 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: know that you're okay. Um yeah, not so that you 298 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: don't feel like everything is on you constantly. And also 299 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: therapy is great. I love anything. Yeah. Going to school, 300 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 1: I've just experienced anxiety, especially since Parkland, just because you 301 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,400 Speaker 1: everyone says it's not going to be your school, and 302 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: then that's what happens. How do you get through? And 303 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: what advice do you have for people who are in 304 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: college or high school just that are anxious during the 305 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: day because they hear something that frightens them. Really, there 306 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: is no way to respond to that because it's like, 307 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 1: you know, I think about it almost like our parents 308 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: or our parents parents in some cases, you know, going 309 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: through you know, nuclear drills at school where it's like, 310 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: oh God, that's prepared for this thing that shouldn't be opening, 311 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: and there's basically no way to survive. But because our 312 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: government can't figure out a way to stop it, um, 313 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: now we have to face the consequence. And like you 314 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: couldn't really go back to that time and just be like, yeah, 315 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: duck and cover, You'll be fine. There's just like a 316 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 1: nuclear blast coming your way. UM. But what does give 317 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:19,959 Speaker 1: me hope is that that anxiety that people felt in 318 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: that time period is part of what fueled the anti 319 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: nuclear effort, and you know, throughout the seventies and eighties, UM, 320 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: that helped create you know, pretty major unilateral treaties between 321 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: the United States and the Soviet Union for arms reduction 322 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: and created a much safer future and in reducing the 323 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,720 Speaker 1: likelihood of a nuclear war ever happening. And I think 324 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 1: sadly that that's probably going to be what's happening here 325 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: with gun laws in the future is all you know, 326 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:50,360 Speaker 1: we're raising our politicians because of their inaction UM or 327 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: their ownership, I guess you could say of by organizations 328 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: like the n r A are creating a generation of 329 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 1: traumatized children, not just in schools but in their communities 330 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: to where you know, kids have to oftentimes, you know, 331 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: for for decades or hundreds of years, have had to 332 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 1: walk home or run home for if you're being shot 333 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: on a daily basis outside of their schools too, and 334 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: they never get talked about UM and we have to 335 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: create an interjust intergenerational coalition of youth from every community 336 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: where we know that if we aren't, if we're just 337 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 1: talking shootings and schools, but there's still it's still just 338 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: as like the shootings happen outside of someone's school or 339 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: a gun suicide is still just as likely. We still 340 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: have a major problem here. We can't leave people behind. 341 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: Do you think lockdown drills are effective? Because that's something 342 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: I've been curious about, because you have been in an 343 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: actual shooting, how can we change those situations to where 344 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: it can actually save lives? I would say lockdown drills 345 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,840 Speaker 1: are probably just about as effective as nuclear bomb drills 346 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 1: when they are nuclear drills, like because I we don't 347 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 1: know well, I mean they basically said, hey, you're all 348 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: gonna die, just duck and cover and you'll be fine. 349 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,240 Speaker 1: Of course you wouldn't be because like there's like two 350 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: winds or whatever that comes through at that time. It's 351 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: like they're trying to put a band aid on this 352 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,919 Speaker 1: like massive wound where you're bleeding out, and it's just 353 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: like are you going to put a band aid on it? 354 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: Or you're gonna actually get in there and like get 355 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,919 Speaker 1: some stitches on it to stop the bleeding, right, And 356 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,880 Speaker 1: with that stitches in this metaphor, I guess you could 357 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: say is preemptive legislation that stops these things from ever happening. 358 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: So no, I don't think, but I don't think lockdown 359 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: drills are effective in any way, shape or form. And 360 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:30,640 Speaker 1: if anything, they just traumatize us more. What are misconceptions 361 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: that people have about March for Lives and what you 362 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: guys want Because you're not trying to take away guns. 363 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: I think people forget that. That's the biggest one I 364 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: would say would be there, Yeah, where'd you trying to 365 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 1: take away their guns? Like UM on the World to 366 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 1: Change tour, And this is something David could speak to UM. 367 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,199 Speaker 1: Outside of all of our events that we will go to, 368 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: we would have counter protesters showing up there with their 369 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: A R fifteens and they're like, actually bring them. Yeah 370 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:06,040 Speaker 1: that's terrifying. Yeah, Like I know for sure they brought 371 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: them in Nevada and in Texas, but it's Nevada and Texas. Um, um, 372 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: yeah they would bring and if it wasn't like their 373 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: A R fifteens, they were like if their state had 374 00:20:17,119 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: concealed carry, they would carry um. And so one thing 375 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: like that was probably like the main thing that I 376 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: at least remember getting told. They're like, well, you're trying 377 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: to take away my guns, and I'm like, no, I'm not. 378 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: I'm just trying to make it harder for people that 379 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 1: should not have guns to get them, and then make 380 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: sure that we that the people that do have guns, 381 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 1: that we're going through the proper and necessary and comprehensive 382 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: steps to make sure that you are fit to own 383 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: that gun, and that when you do have that gun, 384 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: that you're using it in a responsible way to where 385 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: you're not putting yourself are other people into danger. And 386 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: so that's probably the biggest misconception in I would say. 387 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 1: Another one is that we have some type of like 388 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: ulterior motive, Like the conspiracies, oh god, oh yeah. People 389 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:16,640 Speaker 1: think David's like some FBI informant, waits the craziest inspiracy 390 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 1: that you've heard. I can't even again to tell you, 391 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:28,520 Speaker 1: um okay um. Probably one saying that I'm a twenty 392 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: like eight year old from California that was in prison. Um. 393 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: Another one saying I work for the FBI. UM, And 394 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:43,199 Speaker 1: another one saying that there's a really big one that 395 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: that says that I wasn't at school that day, which 396 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: is completely false. Didn't you film it? Yeah, I was 397 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: at school, but they they edited the videos to make 398 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: it seem like I wasn't at school, because there's a 399 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:58,359 Speaker 1: massive misinformation campaign against the survivors of gun violence. Because 400 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,159 Speaker 1: what they say is if if you don't survive an 401 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:04,560 Speaker 1: instance of gun violence and you're advocating for gun control, 402 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,640 Speaker 1: what they'll tell you is, you can't be doing this 403 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,480 Speaker 1: because like, you don't know what it's like to be 404 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: affected by gun violence. So what do they say to 405 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: the people that are affected by gun violence. They have 406 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: to discredit them in any way possible. So what many 407 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 1: organizations like the n r A and others have done 408 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: is pedal false conspiracy theories that literally bring us thousands 409 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:28,159 Speaker 1: of death threats and also are completely false and misinformation 410 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: campaigns against us to try to discredit us as survivors 411 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: and say you weren't at school that day, you don't exist, 412 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:38,360 Speaker 1: you aren't a real person, because to them, it's unfathomable 413 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: that anyone could believe that, oh, maybe we shouldn't have 414 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: these military great assault rifles on our streets in the 415 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: hands of nineteen year olds. Well, Okay, why do you 416 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: think they're so scared. I'm just because the power of 417 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 1: young people and they know the power of a young 418 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: person voting. I'm just so curious, Like what about guns 419 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: in particular that mad people like, no, like I have 420 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,840 Speaker 1: to have that. Besides, it's your second Amendment right because 421 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: you're not trying to take them away. What do you 422 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: think about it is so that hits so close at 423 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:14,080 Speaker 1: home for them area, Oh, I think it's a false 424 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: sense of security personally. Like I'm from Texas. I live 425 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: in Texas born and raised, so like I've known about 426 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: guns since I was little. Um, I have family members 427 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:28,600 Speaker 1: that own guns. I know a bunch of people that 428 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:33,959 Speaker 1: go hunting, and I would say talking with them and 429 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: just asking them like not like hey, like why do 430 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 1: you just have because like the people that I know 431 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:43,960 Speaker 1: don't just have one gun, they have at least five. So, 432 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: you know, it starts to get once you get people 433 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: with like, you know, multiples like three, four or five six, 434 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: You have to start asking them why do you feel 435 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: the need to have this many guns? Like there's a 436 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: difference between a pistol and a hunting rifle, you know, 437 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: Like there's A, there's a mass, there's a major difference, 438 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,680 Speaker 1: and so when you start to see people pile up 439 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: these weapons of war, you have to start asking them 440 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: like why do you feel like you need it? And 441 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: if there's this false sense of security that it gives people, 442 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,600 Speaker 1: and people feel like the more guns that they have, 443 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: the more secure that they are. And so I feel 444 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: like one of the main reasons outside of just removing 445 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:30,919 Speaker 1: the n r A from it, well, why everyday people 446 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:34,399 Speaker 1: that are such proponents of the Second Amendment and that 447 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,720 Speaker 1: are so pro gun is they feel like by taking 448 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: away their guns, there's no way to to defend themselves 449 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: from anything. Even the Second Amendment had some limitations. It 450 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: wasn't like you could go get your own tank in 451 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 1: your backyard or nuclear matter. It was meant to doing 452 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: well organized militia. And I think that even over the years, 453 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:55,359 Speaker 1: the way the gun lobby and you know, the n 454 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:58,160 Speaker 1: RA is fun it has made it sound like there's 455 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:00,800 Speaker 1: there's no limitations on it, and that anybody wants to 456 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 1: have any sort of rational conversation around doing any sort 457 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,719 Speaker 1: of rules in place, that they're immediately trying to take 458 00:25:06,760 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: away your rights, which is just not We're advocating for 459 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:12,199 Speaker 1: and quite frankly, what the organization has done and what 460 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 1: David and Are Healed others have done is created real 461 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 1: spaces where we can talk about all the different types 462 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: of cultures they are facing gun violence and every day, 463 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:23,359 Speaker 1: every day gun violence versus mass shooting and being rooms 464 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,400 Speaker 1: with convention spaces and like it's a dialogue and policy 465 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,640 Speaker 1: like they've they's entered every room at this point, isn't 466 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: it like over a hundred Americans die every day from 467 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: gun violence? That is so just not okay. And my 468 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: next question is for you, David UM. So I know 469 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 1: you did some debate back in the day, UM, and 470 00:25:46,640 --> 00:25:50,359 Speaker 1: you are very good at getting your point across very well. 471 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: So I'm curious, I what is the best way to 472 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 1: get your point across UM in a debate and just 473 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: in general because that has paid off for you. It's 474 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: a special balance between facts and stories as as well, 475 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 1: because you know, you can say that forty thousand Americans 476 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: die annually from gun violence. UM. But you know, unless 477 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 1: unless every if you're not telling the story of one 478 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: person and you're trying to tell the story of forty tho, 479 00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: you're ultimately going to fail at telling the story. Um. 480 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 1: And you have to make each one of these people 481 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: human to make people realize that, you know, it's not 482 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: just a number. Um. I always say that these people 483 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 1: are not just numbers, they're human beings. Um. People forget 484 00:26:29,800 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: that because people get lost in statistics exactly. And that's 485 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 1: the tough thing is, Like you can try to argue 486 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:39,240 Speaker 1: about this in numbers, but so often people just forget 487 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 1: the humanity behind this. And I can tell you if 488 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 1: anyone knew, you know, the people that are lost every 489 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,720 Speaker 1: day to gun violence. Um, and just you know how 490 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,160 Speaker 1: much our country loses in terms of potential and young 491 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: people and how many best friends and sisters and brothers. 492 00:26:55,640 --> 00:27:00,560 Speaker 1: And it's ridiculous and so unnecessary. Yeah, it's it comes 493 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: down to the simple question of, you know, is it 494 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:08,600 Speaker 1: really worth it to have completely unregulated, like practically unregulated 495 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:12,840 Speaker 1: access to these weapons of mass destruction for the death 496 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: of all these people? You know, Let's think about not 497 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: only how many people are born today, but how many 498 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,680 Speaker 1: people will be born or won't be born twenty years 499 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 1: from now that could have been the next person to 500 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 1: cure cancer, That could have been the next person to 501 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, be the first person on Mars that could 502 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: have been the next person to get like leave the 503 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:33,439 Speaker 1: solar system or whatnot, or like had a grandchild that 504 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: did that. But that's never going to happen because that 505 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:39,000 Speaker 1: person died as a result of gun violence. People forget 506 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:41,879 Speaker 1: that we're people, especially on social media, and then you 507 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: put them on this pedestal as if they're not a 508 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: human that they don't believe that they don't cry. Um, 509 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: do you think if you if just hypothetically, if everyone 510 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: that gave you those death threats and were so just 511 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: came up with those conspiracy, if they like talk to 512 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: face to face and knew you as a person, do 513 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: you think that would have changed what they did? Yeah, 514 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: you know, I don't know about all of them, but 515 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: I would I would probably say based off the interactions 516 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: that I've had with people that literally, for example in Texas, 517 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: we're um, you know, at multiple events shotting my name, 518 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: wanting to literally like saying they wanted to shoot and 519 00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 1: kill us basically and going out and talking to them. Um, 520 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: these people don't realize that we're human beings and we're 521 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 1: not we're not funded by you know, like we're not 522 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:31,280 Speaker 1: pawns of you know, some political party, we're human beings 523 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: that don't want our friends to die. And it's that simple, guys, 524 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: I think, you know, it's often said that things are 525 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: not as simple as they seem, but in this case, 526 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: it really is that simple. We simply don't want our 527 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: friends to die from gun violence. And we we are 528 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: working for those that we've lost that we love and 529 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 1: those that we've lost as well, and we're fighting for 530 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:54,840 Speaker 1: those that can't anymore themselves because the pain is too much. 531 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:58,160 Speaker 1: And when we meet these people in person, and all 532 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 1: of a sudden they understand that, oh, like, you know, 533 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 1: we we may not agree on everything, but you're a 534 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: human being and you truly do care about this, it 535 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: makes it a lot easier. And that, honestly, that's one 536 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,680 Speaker 1: of the reasons I really, as much as I love 537 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: what social media has enabled our movement to do and 538 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: pick up so much steam and momentum quickly, it's one 539 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: of the things I hate most about social media is 540 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:26,040 Speaker 1: it's held to human it's so people. It's very hard 541 00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: to storytell in a human way on social media. That 542 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,040 Speaker 1: makes people realize that these are not just numbers. People 543 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: just don't realize that we're human beings and we're kids 544 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,719 Speaker 1: that you know, our young people are college students that 545 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,520 Speaker 1: simply don't want our friends to die anymore. And sadly, 546 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: in our current political climate, we've become so divided that 547 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 1: our elected officials can't even come together for something the 548 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:49,280 Speaker 1: one thing they should be able to come together for, 549 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: which is the protection of the future of the United States, 550 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:55,000 Speaker 1: which is us as children. That's why our power is 551 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: so important. So this campaign we're launching and a couple 552 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: of days of second anniversary, I mean, this is this 553 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: is what they've been building towards for two years. I mean, 554 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: I find it incredibly frustrated. Here we called David others actors. 555 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:09,000 Speaker 1: I see a bunch of young people who are giving 556 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:13,320 Speaker 1: all their free time to be super patriotic and use 557 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: their First Amendment right and speak out for others who 558 00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 1: can't speak out for themselves. And so for our power 559 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:21,719 Speaker 1: this year, I mean, I think people should be scared 560 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 1: and hopeful that there is an entire voting block of 561 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: young people who are paying attention to the news, who 562 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: are online and social media, who are you know, have 563 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 1: all the stats like Ariel and David are doing. Like 564 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: this is an activist generation, whether it's on gunball's prevention 565 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: or climate change. And I think this, this harnessing of 566 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,280 Speaker 1: the youth power for so important because all of the 567 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:46,160 Speaker 1: groundwork that they've laid, it's now time for elected officials 568 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: to act on this and actually do something about these 569 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 1: unnecessary deaths. I mean, this is a straight up public 570 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: health crisis. Even during coronavirus, people are buying UH lines 571 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 1: around the block, getting gun sat on guns. They us 572 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: back to Ariel's point of fear. I'm sure that people 573 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: feel like but fear of a virus, why does that 574 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: require guns to fear of anything? That's what are other humans? 575 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: What will happen? Um? Yeah, but we know statistically that 576 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: a gun is way more likely to be used on 577 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 1: your loved one or accidentally or using a suicide. I 578 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: mean it's really really troubling to hear the actual steps, 579 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: and I think our power will be highlighting so many 580 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 1: of these type of common things that we know now. UM, 581 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: really encouraging youth to get out there and vote and 582 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: get registered like that's so exciting, this is your first 583 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 1: time voting. I mean I hope that everyone does not 584 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 1: see this as a time where they're afraid to get 585 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: out there and we need to figure out ways we 586 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: can get people to go to the polls, whether it's 587 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 1: mail in ballots or figure out other ways people can 588 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 1: register to vote online and make it really simple for folks. 589 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 1: Let's not make it this difficult process. But this conversation 590 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:56,320 Speaker 1: is extremely motivating to me. How can I get more 591 00:31:56,360 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: involved and how can my listeners also get involved if 592 00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: they want to Twitter? Twitter scares me. Twitter is scary, 593 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: especially if you're not used to it, because it gets 594 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 1: kind of wild. It's like, you know, the zoo with 595 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 1: no zookeepers ever, all the animals are just running across. 596 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: You just don't want to really feel like you know. 597 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: Um but Twitter, Like David mentioned earlier, UM this movement, 598 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: and especially as we've seen within the past two years, 599 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:34,600 Speaker 1: a lot of these youth led movements, whether it be 600 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 1: United We Dream, Sunrise, March for Our Lives, I'm Dream Defenders, 601 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:43,680 Speaker 1: a lot of these youth led movements are born online, 602 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: particularly Twitter, because it's a place where you can voice 603 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:50,959 Speaker 1: your reviews and you can connect with other people that 604 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: have the same views as you. I mean, you're obviously 605 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 1: a writer and a reporter, and too so using your 606 00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,320 Speaker 1: ability to storytell. I mean it's I think think about 607 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 1: organization is awesome. Is like we're talking about debate with David. 608 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,880 Speaker 1: You know, Aria is like a lawyer, a future lawyer. 609 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:07,520 Speaker 1: I mean, everyone kind of brings their skill set to 610 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 1: the table, and so maybe you're a great debater or talker, 611 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: maybe you're a great writer. We have a lot of 612 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: students organization who want to do art activism, So March 613 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 1: for Our Lives has really leaned into artivism. And so 614 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: I would say join the chapter side online so you've 615 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: got our updates. UM. We do a lot of offline 616 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 1: things UM. Obviously in the current state of play, we're 617 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 1: lucky that we do do some online things as well, well, 618 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: leaning into that, like on on the anniversary, were to 619 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:37,000 Speaker 1: do several several hour our power Hub, people can hop 620 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: into and hear from guest speakers and have a music 621 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: section and try to great ways that people can get 622 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:44,880 Speaker 1: trained online, talk to each other online, build that subse 623 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:49,240 Speaker 1: to community online, get educated about gunbows prevention UM, and 624 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: then take their own actions, so registering to vote, getting 625 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 1: yourself out there to vote, running these actions ourselves, pushing 626 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:00,640 Speaker 1: you know, educating your friends, texting five friends like oh 627 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 1: do you know that actually a hundred people die each 628 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 1: day by guns. Um So, I think there's so many 629 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 1: different ways people can do with a low ask to 630 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 1: a high ask. I just I know how busy you 631 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 1: all are first of all, so I just want to 632 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:16,240 Speaker 1: thank you for taking the time. And I think it's 633 00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:18,880 Speaker 1: this conversation just just really inspiring and I think it 634 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,279 Speaker 1: will to a lot of people. So just thank you 635 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:25,480 Speaker 1: so much. Thank you for what you're doing. UM. And 636 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,719 Speaker 1: just to wrap it up, my last question for you, UM, So, 637 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 1: in the future, when you guys are a parent, what 638 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,239 Speaker 1: do you want to be able to say to your 639 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:40,160 Speaker 1: kid that this happened and you're safe in school. I 640 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: want to be able to say that, um, when they're 641 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: reading their history books. About the reason why the planet 642 00:34:45,600 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: isn't underwater right now, um, and why kids are not 643 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:51,960 Speaker 1: dying into schools and in their community is on a 644 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 1: daily basis, is because it's starting in young people took 645 00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: the helm and took democracy into their own hands. And 646 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,879 Speaker 1: this was a demod This was an election that could 647 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 1: have had two very different outcomes. One for a future 648 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 1: where nothing changes and a bund the world ends with 649 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 1: a few people with a lot of money, or a 650 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:19,240 Speaker 1: world where everybody has a future, and other generations actually 651 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: exist because humanity doesn't go extinct. Because young people, UM 652 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 1: got really mad in twenty that we had adults that 653 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:30,319 Speaker 1: didn't care about our future, that didn't believe science, that 654 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:34,520 Speaker 1: didn't believe that we deserve the right to live in 655 00:35:34,560 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 1: the United States, and that other generations, that billions of 656 00:35:38,160 --> 00:35:40,319 Speaker 1: other humans don't deserve the right to live because this 657 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:44,600 Speaker 1: land is not your land, it's future generations land, Um. 658 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 1: That we turned out and voted because we knew that 659 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 1: it wasn't just our lives that depend on it, but 660 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:52,080 Speaker 1: it is billions of future human beings that are our 661 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 1: grandchildren and our future children that depended on this and 662 00:35:56,400 --> 00:36:00,640 Speaker 1: was the year that that changed. I'm really hope let's 663 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:03,799 Speaker 1: put it out there, let's just manifest it. Well, thank 664 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: you guys so much for taking the time. It really 665 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:13,840 Speaker 1: means so much. Thank you, Thank you guys for everything 666 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:19,040 Speaker 1: out there, and thank you for this. Oh I'm excited. 667 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,560 Speaker 1: It's gonna be great. It's gonna be great. Thank you 668 00:36:22,560 --> 00:36:24,879 Speaker 1: guys so much for listening to this episode. I hope 669 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:26,560 Speaker 1: you liked it. I hope you learned a lot. I 670 00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,759 Speaker 1: know why I did. David Ariel Alexis, thank you so 671 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:32,759 Speaker 1: much for coming on. It means so much. Make sure 672 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:35,840 Speaker 1: you follow March for a Lies on all their socials 673 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,359 Speaker 1: and text change to nine five four nine five four 674 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:43,359 Speaker 1: to join the movement. Also follow David on Twitter at 675 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 1: David Hogg one one one, follow him on Instagram at 676 00:36:47,360 --> 00:36:51,839 Speaker 1: David Miles Hogg, follow Ariel at Ariel x Hobbs and 677 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:55,120 Speaker 1: make sure you follow Alexis on Twitter at Alexis Conference 678 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:57,839 Speaker 1: and don't forget to follow me on Instagram. Is at 679 00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: it Sammy J. That's as as a y J and light. 680 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:04,719 Speaker 1: No matter what your beliefs are, I think it's really 681 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:07,399 Speaker 1: important that we educate ourselves on these issues, and if 682 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:09,759 Speaker 1: you want to hear any other topics covered, make sure 683 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 1: you come slow. Thank you guys so much for listening 684 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:14,399 Speaker 1: to you see the episode and I'll see you next week. 685 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:28,280 Speaker 1: Good Bye