#enough

"Bang bang, he shot me down. Bang bang, I hit the ground. Bang bang, that awful sound." - Cher (1966)

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of the Stoneman Douglas High School massacre (Parkland). In remembrance, along with tens of thousands of high school teenagers around the country, my children's high school held a symbolic 17 minute walkout: one minute for each student and teacher murdered on Valentines Day: 

"1,000 students walked out of our school today. They gathered on the football field, wore orange shirts, released 17 orange balloons, one ballon at a time, then remained silent for 17 minutes to remember the 17 victims that were killed a month ago during the violent school shooting. These kids were supposed to be in their classrooms studying, but instead, they walked out of their classrooms to do the things we as grown ups are supposed to do for them." - C.L. 

But the day was about so much more than rightly honoring the fallen. It was also about children being afraid, frustrated and angry that the daily threat of gun violence and death (in their classrooms, on their campuses, on their streets) is an ever present reality in their young lives. It was about children being fed up, sick and tired of adults not being able to get over their ideologies, political jockeying, and partisan bullshit long enough to actually get something done, do something -anything- to confront, decisively and effectively deal with the fact that, in comparison to every other 'First World' country and most 'Third World' countries (not involved in a war) the United States ranks 1st in gun violence/deaths.  

So, after the school sanctioned walkout ended, 300+ students (and about a dozen parents) decided to continue their peaceful protest. They orderly and quietly walked off campus to a busy intersection, about 1.5 miles away. While they were marching, several students called me, asked if I'd come and photograph this moment of their national movement. To capture and share their simple message: #Enough.

"You will not be able to stay home, brother."

"You will not be able to plug in, turn on and drop out."

"You will not be able to lose yourself in skag and skip, skip out for beer and commercials."

"The revolution will not be brought to you...in four parts without commercial interruption."

"The revolution will not be back after a message."

"Because the revolution will not be televised." -Gil Scott-Heron (1971)

Do I mean 'revolution' in the conventional sense, or in the sentiment of the controversial parts of the Heron poem I used selective quotes from? Of course not. As I was taking photographs, listening to the poignant student speakers, speaking with the teenagers assembled, the salient portions of the Heron poem resounded: these children (and children across this nation) are no longer willing to sit back and trust that adults will deal with the pervasive threat of gun violence in their schools - they've patiently waited long #enough. Nor will they allow politicians and pundits to appropriate and/or shape their message of palpable fear and frustration with continued pearl clutching and inaction. #Enough. They are asking, begging, for our help. They just want to be kids. They just want to be safe. And they are going to walkout, march, speak up and out, be politically active, and media savvy until then. They have decided to be the change they have been waiting for.

"Listen to their speeches, they expressed their fear about whether or not they can be safe anymore in school or anywhere. They [are] scared, frustrated and angry. They were not doing it for show, they were doing it hoping we grown ups will listen and care. Being there to support them was the least we could do as parents. Their voice[s] and signs were loud and clear. The reaction from strangers [driving by] was amazing! Someday, some of these kids are going to do amazing things for this country!" - C.L.

Vivre! Rire! Aimer!

Temple