The father of a victim from the 2018 Parkland school shooting has unleashed a scathing rebuke of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and other Republicans for their token gestures of “thoughts and prayers” instead of addressing the real issue of gun violence.
In the wake of a devastating school shooting in Georgia on Wednesday, Greene responded with a call for people to “join me in prayer for all students, staff, and families at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia,” as reported by Scripps News correspondent Nathaniel Reed.
Manuel Oliver, who lost his 17-year-old daughter in the Parkland massacre, did not hold back his outrage.
“I’m just listening to the quotes from members of Congress, and they’re praying?” Oliver said. “They’re asking us to pray, and everyone is listening to them.”
Oliver condemned the hollow responses from politicians, stressing that such gestures fall woefully short. “You have a governor in that place that is asking us to pray, to join his family and pray. That is not enough, and that is not working,” he said.
He also anticipated that pro-gun politicians would likely propose increasing school security measures like metal detectors and armed teachers rather than addressing the root causes of gun violence.
“Shame on anyone that is praying today instead of reacting before,” Oliver declared.
The shooting on Wednesday resulted in at least four fatalities. Authorities have confirmed that a 14-year-old suspect identified as Colt Gray is in custody.
Watch the video from Scripps News below.
