Emma González stood in silence for 6 minutes and 20 seconds on live TV, and her courage continues to amaze us
One of the biggest voices to emerge in the last few months has been Emma González. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student experienced gun violence firsthand, when a shooter opened fire on Valentine’s Day, and killed 17 student and faculty members in less than 10 minutes. This shooting in Parkland, Florida has once again brought gun violence and gun control to the forefront of our society, and at the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., the 18-year old González took the stage for a speech — but first, she stood in complete silence for six minutes and 20 seconds.
Why six minutes and 20 seconds? Because that’s how long it took Nikolas Cruz to kill 17 students and faculty members at Stoneman Douglas High School.
This is most definitely one of those “actions speak louder than words” situations, and Gonzálezsheer bravery and dedication will never not inspire us to do more. While she stood in silence on national TV, tears began to run down her face, and honestly, she might be the strongest person on the planet right now.
Those watching the March for Our Lives at home couldn’t help but call out González’s courage on Twitter.
Emma González: “Since the time that I came out here, it has been 6 minutes and 20 seconds. Fight for your lives before it is someone else's job." #MarchForOurLives (via CBS) pic.twitter.com/hPeoWl3Mgj
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 24, 2018
Such courage from @Emma4Change 6 minutes and 20 secs with tears rolling down their face #neveragain#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/HBcEDsqTFi
— Cheryl Carter-Ellis (@saponicheryl) March 24, 2018
Emma Gonzalez stares into the crowd in silence as tears stream down her cheeks for 6 minutes and 23 seconds, the time it took for a gunman to take 17 lives in Parkland. Powerful. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/JBkszwuma4
— Fiza Pirani (@fizapirani) March 24, 2018
.@Emma4Change holding this silence is one of the most remarkable political moments I've seen. #MarchForOurLives
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) March 24, 2018
OMG! @Emma4Change stood silently, with tears, for 6 minutes & 20 seconds, the time it took for the shooter to kill 17 students, abandon his rifle, blend in & walk free for an hour.
Her message: "Fight for your lives!"#MarchForOurLives #NeverAgain #GunReformNow #NRAKillsKids pic.twitter.com/0WvM1S9eDt— Todd Matson (@twmentality1) March 24, 2018
Parkland survivor Emma Gonzalez stands silent, in tears, for 6 minutes 20 seconds at #MarchForOurLives: the time it took the school’s shooter to wreak havoc. “Fight for your lives, before it becomes somebody else’s job,” she says, then leaves, as the crowd chants, “Emma! Emma!” pic.twitter.com/dTJDpRKgbf
— Joshua Johnson (@jejohnson322) March 24, 2018
Emma, you continue to inspire and motivate us with literally everything you do.