After the 2017 shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, then-17-year-old survivor David Hogg and several of his young classmates forced the nation to sit up and have a tough — and different — conversation about gun violence. The teens marched for their lives, and challenged seasoned gun lobbyists and lawmakers on live television. They led protests and boycotts, and inspired young people across the country to register and vote for candidates who support more stringent gun control.
On Tuesday, Hogg, now 19, shared with The Washington Post the high cost that’s come with the teens’ activism. His and his family’s safety have been put at risk, he said. In the past year alone, “there have been seven assassination attempts” on his life, Hogg said.
“I realize that it’s horrible that I have to live through this, and it is traumatizing. But you eventually become desensitized to it. Like, oh, your house got ‘swatted.’ You got a call from the police saying someone said that everyone in your family had been killed and that you are being held hostage for $100,000 … That becomes part of daily life,” Hogg said, referring to a troubling incident last year when police armed with assault rifles barged into his family home after receiving a prank call alleging the family had been taken hostage by a gunman.
Hogg and his family were fortunately not home at the time, but as the Los Angeles Times noted following the incident, the swatting attempt could’ve proven deadly.
It was not so much a childish prank as attempted manslaughter, the Times said, noting that a swatting victim ― 28-year-old father-of-two Andrew Finch ― had died at the hands of California police a few months prior.
Despite the threats to his life, Hogg ― who has also endured harassment by far-right figures and conspiracy theorists ― said he’s “not going to stop” his activism.
“I want to go to school and, for lack of a better word, weaponize my knowledge and learn as much as possible to end violence,” Hogg, who is expected to attend Harvard in the fall, told the Post.
“I also realize, if they kill me, that’s probably the stupidest thing they could do to try to end the movement,” Hogg said of those wanting to do him harm. “Because that would make it even more successful in the end. Because it would invigorate us and create fucking change.”
Attention Floridians!
Help us ban Assault Weapons sign the petition and donate at https://t.co/fXuhAmYZBd https://t.co/9u6khX6zGG
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) June 19, 2019
https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/david-hogg-parkland-assassination-attempts-095832556.html
Want a good laugh
Read the comments
Lots of folks ain’t buying this shit no more
Great comments – but almost a 100% acceptability that this was ‘real’, sadly. So yes – ‘they’ got away with another FF.
Would like to show that teacher an Israeli Tavor. Bet THAT is the gun ‘she’d never seen before’.
Oh, and Mr. Trumplestein? WHY DID YOUR SECRET SERVICE VISIT A FRIKKEN HIGH SCHOOL 2 WEEKS BEFORE THIS STAGED EVENT?
Bahahahaahahahahaa! ROLMFAO!
What a joke. And I was born yesterday.
Talk about comedy.
Another glorious Yahoo piece.
Unfrigginbelievable……
I survived the first Gulf War in ‘89 and I wasn’t even in the military nor in the Middle East. I was still in school. Where’s my money and 15 minutes of fame? Lol
My wife also survived Slick Willy’s sex scandals in the 90’s and she was never in the country nor even met the guy.
Phew! Thank goodness!
I also survived getting my wee wee cut off by Lorena Bobbit.
Ban all knives!!!
Unfrigginbelievable….
what a crock of hillary
“I also realize, if they kill me, that’s probably the stupidest thing they could do to try to end the movement,” Hogg said of those wanting to do him harm. “Because that would make it even more successful in the end. Because it would invigorate us and create f-king change.””
DAMN YUNGUN, I WOULDNT BET THE WHOLE LEFTIST MOVEMENT ON YOUR SELF IMPORTANCE AND DELLUSIONS OF GRANDEUR…..
“In the past year alone, “there have been seven assassination attempts” on his life, Hogg said.”
Luckily, every single attempt was perpetrated by Wile E. Koyote (no relation to our KOYOTE here at FTT).
Battery done… later, folks.
wasn’t me…. i don’t miss……….
We’d have been forever in your debt had you accomplished such an admirable goal.
🙂