Lawmakers, community members, and Michigan State University Students gathered on the state Capitol lawn Wednesday, February 15, to discuss this week’s mass shooting on campus.
One by one, dozens of speakers shared their anger at Monday’s violence that left three students dead and five others hospitalized.
MSU psychology student Maya Manuel started the event with a post to her snapchat story. She says she wanted to give students a place to voice their feelings.
“I really hope that it is mentioned in a few weeks," Manuel said. "I hope it doesn’t get swept away like it has with Oxford and other schools that are being threatened in Michigan or have been threatened in Michigan or surrounding states and cities. Just the whole country honestly.”
During the event, Manuel asked those in attendance to sit as they would during a lockdown drill, sitting cross legged in single file lines.
"We’re sitting and listening just as we’ve done our whole lives and we didn’t want to scream," Manuel said. "We’re tired. We’re so tired. We don’t have the energy, I’ve slept four hours the past two days. I don’t have the energy to walk everywhere right now."
Student Katie Sundeen says she knew one of the victims.
"When is enough enough?" Sundeen asked. "How many times do I have to text my loved ones and ask if they are safe? Which words do I need to say to convince politicians that my life matters more than someone’s right to bear arms?"
Many of the speakers discussed their fears growing up with frequent reports of school shootings. Several students shared their frustration at having lived through multiple instances of mass violence.
Democratic state lawmakers are promising gun legislation will come soon.
Monday marked the second mass school shooting to take place in Michigan in less than a year and a half.