Alex Wind
Alex Wind | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alexander Blake Wind[1] January 30, 2001[2][3] |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Pennsylvania State University |
| Occupation | Student activist |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Organization | Never Again MSD |
| Known for | Advocacy against gun violence |
Alexander Blake Wind (born January 30, 2001)[2][3] is an American student activist against gun violence. A survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and a founding member of the Never Again MSD movement,[4] he is a critic of politicians who are supported by the National Rifle Association of America.[5] Wind was one of five Stoneman Douglas students featured on the cover of Time magazine in 2018.[6]
Wind was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. [7]
In a speech televised internationally at the March for Our Lives protest in Washington on March 24, 2018, Wind criticized people who think that "teenagers can't do anything", and he cited examples of young people from history including Joan of Arc and Mozart.[8] He criticized the idea of arming teachers as a defense against violence, saying that if "teachers start packing heat, are they going to arm our pastors, ministers, and rabbis?"[5] He insisted that young people must vote in the upcoming election.[9] Wind urged people to contact their congresspersons and ask them to declare their stance on gun control and not accept campaign contributions from the NRA, and to petition lawmakers to take steps to end gun violence.[10]
Wind was a member of the drama club of Stoneman Douglas High School, and he was one of the first students to speak out online after the shooting.[3] He promoted the March for Our Lives student protest in numerous media interviews.[3] He sang the national anthem before a basketball game featuring the Miami Heat.[3] At the March for Our Lives nationwide protest in Washington, he said:[5]
To all the politicians out there, if you take money from the NRA, you have chosen death. If you have not expressed to your constituencies a public stance on this issue, you have chosen death. If you do not stand with us by saying we need to pass common-sense gun legislation, you have chosen death. And none of the millions of people marching in this country today will stop until they see those against us out of office. Because we choose life.
— Alex Wind, addressing the March for Our Lives, March 24, 2018[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "19 Under 19: Teen Activists". The Gramlist. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ a b @abbeyjo2 (January 30, 2016). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX WIND!! @al3xw1nd" (Tweet) – via Twitter. (Wind's response to @abbeyjo2: "@abbeyjo2 thank you!")
- ^ a b c d e Chris Harris (February 28, 2018). "What To Know About Alex Wind, School Shooting Survivor and Core Member of #NeverAgain Movement". People. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
... The 17-year-old junior — a member of the school's drama club — has gone from the small stage at his school to the world stage, becoming one of the most visible student activists fighting for gun ...
- ^ Christina Pazzanese (March 20, 2018). "Parkland students: The violence must stop here". Harvard Gazette. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
...since the massacre at their high school, students Emma Gonzalez (from left), David Hogg, Cameron Kasky, Alex Wind, Matt Deitsch, and Ryan Deitsch have become among the most recognizable faces in the #NeverAgain movement ...
- ^ a b c d Justin Baragonna (March 24, 2018). "Parkland Student Alex Wind: 'If You Take Money From the NRA, You Have Chosen Death'". Mediaite. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
... students made speeches at today's March For Our Lives rally for gun reform. ... Alex Wind, took particular aim at pro-gun politicians and the NRA, using some very strong words in the process....
- ^ Ashley May (March 23, 2018). "Why is a Parkland student barefoot on the 'Time' magazine cover?". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
...Jaclyn Corin, toes out, stands alongside other #NeverAgain movement leaders from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School: Emma González, David Hogg, Cameron Kasky and Alex Wind. ...
- ^ "The Parkland Students: The World's 100 Most Influential People". Time. Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
- ^ Bob Brigham (March 24, 2018). "'Our government has been useless': Parkland student slams NRA control in emotional #MarchForOurLives speech". Raw Story. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
... When Joan of Arc fought back English forces, she was 17 years old. When Mozart wrote his first symphony he was 8 years old," Wind noted....
- ^ Ashraf Khalil (March 23, 2018). "Protesters gather in Washington, demanding gun control". Star Telegram. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
...Alex Wind, a 17-year-old student from MSD. "We are the age of people that don't vote normally. We're going to change that."...
- ^ Caleb Hull (March 24, 2018). "Parkland Survivor Goes Off: 'If You Take Money From the NRA, You Have Chosen Death'". Independent Journal Review. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
...Alex Wind, one of the most outspoken gun control activists who survived the tragic Parkland shooting, gave a passionate speech ...
External links
[edit]- CNN video of Wind's speech
