How Activists, Celebrities, and Politicians Are Responding to the Uvalde Shooting
On Tuesday, a gunman killed at least 19 people—including 18 children—in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The massacre is the deadliest elementary school shooting in the state’s history, and the second-deadliest U.S. shooting after Sandy Hook in 2012, which left 26 dead.
In the wake of the tragedy, politicians, activists, and celebrities have come forward to offer condolences, prayers, and outrage over Texas gun laws. Notably, Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey weighed in with a lengthy Twitter statement—though many on social media have noted that it failed to mention any specific gun reform initiatives or communicate a clear call to action.
Other Texas celebs like Selena Gomez have directed their followers to organizations like Everytown, which is working to end gun violence. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have also spoken publicly about the Uvalde shooting, as well as activists like Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, and National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, who decried inaction on gun violence in a moving poem on Twitter. Here are some more public figures pleading for stricter gun control:
Activists
easier to get a gun than baby formula
— Meena Harris (@meena) May 24, 2022
School shootings are not fucking acts of nature, like hurricanes and tornadoes. They're man-made acts of inaction, of cowardice, of corruption by all lawmakers who refuse to pass laws PROVEN BY DATA to stop preventable, senseless shootings like in Uvalde.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 24, 2022
It takes a monster to kill children. But to watch monsters kill children again and again and do nothing isn’t just insanity—it’s inhumanity.
— Amanda Gorman (@TheAmandaGorman) May 24, 2022
.@NRA cancel your convention coming up in Texas and donate the money to the victims families.
— David Hogg 🌻 (@davidhogg111) May 25, 2022
Celebrities
Uvalde, Texas, USA. pic.twitter.com/0iULRGtREm
— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) May 25, 2022
Filled with rage and grief, and so broken by the murders in Uvalde. By Buffalo, Laguna Woods and so many others. By the ways in which we, as a nation, have become conditioned to unfathomable and unbearable heartbreak. Steve’s words ring so true and cut so deep. https://t.co/Rb5uwSTxty
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) May 25, 2022
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Just last week a targeted mass shooting at a market in Buffalo and now a school shooting in Uvalde. Communities should be safe in their grocery stores, our CHILDREN should be safe in class! This has to end.
Thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. We need change. 💔— Becky G. (@iambeckyg) May 24, 2022
Today in my home state of Texas 18 innocent students were killed while simply trying to get an education. A teacher killed doing her job; an invaluable yet sadly under appreciated job. If children aren’t safe at school where are they safe?
— Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) May 25, 2022
FUCKING ENOUGH!!!!
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) May 24, 2022
As a mother, this is the tragically unimaginable. School should be a SAFE place. My heart breaks for the pain and suffering of every family member and loved one connected to today’s events in Texas. My prayers are with you 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) May 24, 2022
We living in some TRYING TIMES… It’s Heavy…😞I am praying for everyone that is struggling MENTALLY/FINANCIALLY/PHYSICALLY that some PEACE be RESTORED! So many in the world is dealing with pain & I don’t have the answers but I send you LOVE virtually💜🙏🏾
— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) May 25, 2022
WHAT IN GOD'S NAME ARE WE DOING? THIS HAS GOT TO CHANGE! THIS NATION IS FULL OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT CONTROL THEIR WORST IMPULSES AND THE INNOCENT ALWAYS PAY THE PRICE! DON'T SAVE FETUSES ONLY TO HAVE THEM DIE AT SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU LOVE YOUR GUNS MORE THAN LIFE! FOR SHAME!!
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) May 24, 2022
Like cmon! What are we doing as a Nation man!!!!??? 😔😔😔🥺🥺🥺🥺😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 https://t.co/bWc8tcZjDt
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 25, 2022
Politicians
The idea that an 18-year-old can walk into a store and buy assault weapons is just wrong.
What in God’s name do you need an assault weapon for except to kill someone?— President Biden (@POTUS) May 25, 2022
Lord, enough.
Little children and their teacher.
Stunned. Angry. Heartbroken.— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) May 24, 2022
Aren’t you slated to headline a speaking gig for the NRA in three days - in Houston, no less?
You can do more than pray. Faith without works is dead. https://t.co/NMX64KljhL— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 24, 2022
Vice Pres. Kamala Harris on Texas elementary school shooting: "To the people of Uvalde...we are praying for you and we stand with you." https://t.co/pWKjP61PcZ pic.twitter.com/xVXwzYIr4x
— ABC News (@ABC) May 24, 2022
Across the country, parents are putting their children to bed, reading stories, singing lullabies—and in the back of their minds, they’re worried about what might happen tomorrow after they drop their kids off at school, or take them to a grocery store or any other public space.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 25, 2022
Uvalde is a wonderful, tight-knit community west of my hometown of San Antonio. My heart goes out to the community and the families in Uvalde devastated by gun violence today. This is a parent’s worst nightmare. We need gun reform now. https://t.co/lQUPFHWlb6
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) May 24, 2022
Our broken hearts are with Uvalde.
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) May 24, 2022
My heart breaks for families across Uvalde, Texas who are in shock and mourning.
No child should have to experience such a horrific attack. No teacher should have to be afraid of going to work. Enough is enough.https://t.co/rSreLbjE4n— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) May 24, 2022
Deeply saddened by the news of the murder of innocent children in Texas. Sincere condolences to the families of the victims, the people of the US and @POTUS over this tragedy. The people of Ukraine share the pain of the relatives and friends of the victims and all Americans.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 25, 2022
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