Greeted By Local Students, Parkland Survivors Arrive At Florida Capital To Talk Gun Control

WFSU | By Sascha Cordner

Published February 20, 2018 at 11:43 PM EST

Tanzil Philip, 16, a student survivor from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoo; speaks to a crowd of supporters and media at Leon High School, in Tallahassee, Fla.

100 Parkland students arrived at the Florida Capital Tuesday night. They were met by Tallahassee students, who want to join them in swaying state lawmakers to their gun control cause.

As Parkland students, teachers, and parents got off the buses, hundreds of Leon County High school students cheered them on. And, Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school sophomore Tanzil Philip, 16, says he’s grateful for their support.

“Our message is very simple, and it’s #NeverAgain,” he said to the crowd of 500. “We cannot let anything like this happen to us ever again. We never thought it would happen to us in the first place. And, I’m so happy to see all of my friends here supporting me, and it’s amazing to see all of you come out and support all of us in this awful time. Thank you.”

Tallahassee high school students will receive an excused absence, if they attend a rally planned at the Capitol Wednesday around noon with Parkland shooting survivors. Parkland students also have meetings planned with top House and Senate leadership as well as Governor Rick Scott.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner .