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The views expressed in this article are those of Nate Morris, senior editor of The Black Wall Street Times, alone and do no necessarily reflect the views of the organization as a whole.
On this day in 2012, I was standing in Room 1 during my first year of teaching, watching the news of Sandy Hook unfold on TV.
I remember having to walk into my classroom and hold back tears while I told my kids what happened.
The very next school day, we went on full lockdown and I sat inside of a closet with my kids, trying to keep them calm while running through scenario upon scenario in my head about how to ensure they made it out safely if we were faced with an intruder.
It’s been six years since 20 young children and six adults were murdered inside of their elementary school – and NOTHING has changed.
Our leaders have put forth no policy action. Our government has set no plan in place to make change.
So far in 2018, there have been 94 school shootings in the United States with 163 casualties.
NEVER BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION HAS IT BEEN MORE DANGEROUS TO BE A STUDENT OR A TEACHER INSIDE OF A SCHOOL.
Our kids now have instructions of how to survive a school shooter posted in their classrooms. High schoolers are learning how to keep their classmates from bleeding out. Scared students are writing letters to their parents during lockdowns to say goodbye.
This is America – and somehow, collectively, we still allow our love of guns and our desire for power to overwhelm our love for the lives of our own kids.
It’s been six years since I’ve had to tell my students that they were no longer safe in their classroom – and nothing has been done to change that.
I hope that makes you mad as hell.
I hope that drives you to call and write your leaders.
I hope that lights a fire in you to make real change.
If hope that fills you with an unparalleled fight to save our kids before we’re forced into another anniversary of remembrance.
Nate Morris is the senior editor of the Black Wall Street Times. Nate was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and moved to Tulsa in 2012 after graduating from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. He received his Master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2015. Nate is a Teach for America alumnus and has worked in schools throughout the Tulsa area. He is an advocate for educational equity as well as racial and social justice throughout Tulsa and the nation as a whole.