A Geography Teacher Died Protecting His Students
On February 14, a shooter opened fire on students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, leaving 17 dead and 15 injured. The shooter was a former student of the school who had been expelled due to "disciplinary reasons."
The shooter set off a fire alarm to lure students out into the hallways, which is where the shooting began. Amid the crisis that ensued, 35-year-old geography teacher Scott Beigel stepped up to protect his students.
In an interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, student Kelsey Friend recounted how Beigel unlocked the door of his classroom to provide safety to her and other students as they fled from the gunman. Once gathered in the classroom, they reportedly hid behind his desk. As Beigel went to relock the door, the shooter walked past and fatally shot him.
"I am alive today because of him," Friend said in the interview. "Thank you for bringing and having this amazing person in life and giving him the power to be stronger than I could have ever been," she said in an opportunity to address his family on air. "He will be missed by me and multiple friends, his name with me will live on," Friend said.
But where do we go from here? In an interview with CNN, student David Hogg, 17, made a point to address politicians. "My message to lawmakers and Congress is: Please, take action," Hogg said. "Ideas are great. Ideas are wonderful and they help you get re-elected and everything, but what's more important is actual action and pertinent action that results in saving thousands of children's lives. Please, take action," Hogg repeated.
President Trump also released a statement via Twitter, claiming students should have done more to prevent this incident by "report[ing] such instances to authorities, again and again!"
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