I am reaching out to express my deepest remorse and apologies for the senseless gun violence you and your friends and classmates have relentlessly witnessed during the innocent years of your youth because of the misguided judgment and fathomless corruption of our leadership at every level.

It is unavoidably evident that we have profoundly failed to protect you because of our complacency, our greed, and the malignancy that power can bring. In the face of this most difficult time, your voices are the antidote. It is your time to organize and join with your brother and sisters in Florida and around the nation and demand common sense gun laws and safe schools. Don’t wait for another election cycle only to have money and corruption stymie change while your friends and dedicated teachers are dying on the front lines.

Organize a walkout, for just twenty minutes, or for a day, or more boldly, tell all your friends and allies next door and across the nation: no students in schools anywhere until military style assault weapons are banned everywhere. Hold closely in your heart, that you, your brothers and sisters are the future and safe passage is your right. Go forth, be kind and do well by each other. We then may have a new day. 

Respectfully yours,
Lindsay Daskalopoulos

P.S. There is a discussion about gun violence this weekend (2/25) in our community – What We Can Do About Gun Violence, at 11 a.m. at Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road. Open to all.