Barack Obama Praises 5 Parkland Survivors In Powerful Time Essay

For his entry in Time's 100 Most Influential People list, former President Barack Obama chose five student survivors of the Parkland, Florida, shooting on February 14 that left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Singling out Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin, David Hogg, Emma González, and Alex Wind, Obama wrote a powerful essay on how the students are helping to change the conversation around gun control without the institutional backing of politicians.

"Seared by memories of seeing their friends murdered at a place they believed to be safe, these young leaders don’t intimidate easily," he writes in the piece.

Obama begins by addressing the canned "thoughts and prayers" response used by many politicians in the wake of a mass shooting. "America’s response to mass shootings has long followed a predictable pattern. We mourn. Offer thoughts and prayers. Speculate about the motives," he writes. "And then — even as no developed country endures a homicide rate like ours, a difference explained largely by pervasive accessibility to guns; even as the majority of gun owners support commonsense reforms — the political debate spirals into acrimony and paralysis."

"This time, something different is happening," he continues. "This time, our children are calling us to account."

Obama went on to point out that although the student activists of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School don't have "the kind of lobbyists or big budgets for attack ads that their opponents do," with most of them not even being able to vote yet, "they have the power so often inherent in youth: to see the world anew; to reject the old constraints, outdated conventions and cowardice too often dressed up as wisdom. The power to insist that America can be better."

Writing that student leaders like Cameron, Jaclyn, David, Emma, and Alex don't "intimidate easily," Obama commends them for taking on the powerful opponents of gun control. "They see the NRA and its allies — whether mealymouthed politicians or mendacious commentators peddling conspiracy theories — as mere shills for those who make money selling weapons of war to whoever can pay," he writes. "They’re as comfortable speaking truth to power as they are dismissive of platitudes and punditry. And they live to mobilize their peers."

"Already, they’ve had some success persuading statehouses and some of the biggest gun retailers to change," he adds. "Now it gets harder. A Republican Congress remains unmoved. NRA scare tactics still sway much of the country. Progress will be slow and frustrating."

As he wraps up the piece, the former POTUS gives readers a look into a future in which young activists like the Parkland students have effected powerful change. "But by bearing witness to carnage, by asking tough questions and demanding real answers, the Parkland students are shaking us out of our complacency," he writes. "The NRA’s favored candidates are starting to fear they might lose. Law-abiding gun owners are starting to speak out. As these young leaders make common cause with African Americans and Latinos — the disproportionate victims of gun violence — and reach voting age, the possibilities of meaningful change will steadily grow."

Previously, Barack and Michelle Obama wrote a letter to the student survivors, praising them for their powerful actions, including organizing the March for Our Lives after the shooting. "We wanted to let you know how inspired we have been by the resilience, resolve and solidarity that you have all shown in the wake of unspeakable tragedy," the Obamas wrote. "Not only have you supported and comforted each other, but you’ve helped awaken the conscience of the nation, and challenged decision-makers to make the safety of our children the country’s top priority. Throughout our history, young people like you have led the way in making America better. There may be setbacks; you may sometimes feel like progress is too slow in coming. But we have no doubt you are going to make an enormous difference in the days and years to come, and we will be there for you."

You can read the rest of former president Obama's Time 100 essay here.