The brother of a Parkland shooting victim says he was barred from speaking at the "March for our Lives" rally against gun violence last week, claiming his fellow students behind the march didn't support his message.
David Hogg, a Parkland survivor who has become a vocal advocate for gun control in the weeks since the shooting, said Saturday that Hunter Pollack, whose sister Meadow Pollack died along with 16 others in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month, was left out from the march over a logistical issue.
"A miscommunication led to Hunter not being able to speak at the march... I would like you to hear it now," said Hogg to his 700,000 followers with a video of a speech by Pollack calling for increased protection of schools.
Pollack thanked Hogg for sharing the speech but insisted that "there was no miscommunication my speech didn't fit In to the agenda."
Please share this video so as many people as possible can hear this beautiful message... We need an intersectional approach to this issue to save as many lives as we can. This isn’t left or right, it’s about saving lives. Through unity and love we will win and end gun violence. https://t.co/KEmvqD5mZc
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) March 31, 2018
Thank you , I appreciate you pushing out my video but there was no miscommunication my speech didn’t fit I️n to the agenda . https://t.co/t3FnYTVnmC
— Hunter Pollack (@PollackHunter) March 31, 2018
Another student organizer and classmate of Pollack's, Ryan Deitsch, claimed that Pollack had a speech scheduled at the Washington march but never showed up. Dietsch denied the role of any politics in the matter, saying it was "not political whatsoever, he just wasn't there."
"I was going to give a speech about Meadow and how devastated I am and how we need to make change, but they won't allow me to put my voice out," Pollack said at the time.
Hunter Pollack and his father Andrew Pollack have been outspoken advocates of increased school security and arming teachers since the shooting, when a gunman armed with an AR-15 rifle rampaged through the school.
Hunter has clashed with his classmates over the issue, calling for more stringent security measures instead of advocating for the across-the-board gun ban legislation supported by other survivors.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpJoe Arpaio loses bid for his old position as sheriff Trump brushes off view that Russia denigrating Biden: 'Nobody's been tougher on Russia than I have' Trump tees up executive orders on economy but won't sign yet MORE has personally consoled the Pollack family, writing in an official letter that he and first lady Melania Trump
Melania TrumpThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Senate GOP, House Democrats begin battle over trillion bill Melania Trump announces plans to renovate White House Rose Garden Trump tweets photo of himself wearing a mask MORE are praying for their "comfort and strength." Trump also thanked Andrew and Hunter Pollack for their participation in a White House listening session with other shooting survivors and affected family members.
In his speech, recorded around the time of a memorial motorcycle ride in memory of Meadow Pollack, Hunter said his sister was gone "because our schools are not safe," and demanded that adults and teachers in the country "put a value on our lives and protect us above all and everything else."
