Eleven months ago, David Hogg was just like any other high school senior. He had aspirations of becoming an aerospace engineer and was months away from graduating. His life would permanently change, however, with the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., which claimed the lives of some of 17 of his classmates and teachers.
Hogg is now traveling the world as a gun control advocate and to emphasize the importance of fighting for your passions. He shared his experiences over the past year and hopes for the future to a sold-out crowd in Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center as part of SPA (Student Programming Association) Day on Friday.
Speaking to a crowd of mostly students, Hogg stressed the importance of getting involved in politics at a young age, regardless of which side of the political spectrum you side with.
The two “sides” of the gun control debate were apparent Friday, as those who disagree with Hogg staged a gun rights rally at the Allen Street Gates and later brought their efforts to the HUB prior to Hogg’s lecture.
Hogg said young people must be their own advocates in a world where they’re often ignored by politicians. He urged the audience to get out and vote, but also to find an issue they are passionate about and use that to get out and talk to people.
“[Age] is not an excuse to stop speaking. It is a reason to speak even more,” Hogg said before the lecture.
David Hogg speaks to media prior to his lecture at Penn State’s HUB-Robeson Center on Jan. 18, 2019. Photo by Dana Lipshutz | Onward State
He said the greatest success since the start of the Never Again MSD campaign has been from legislation in a number of states that has disarmed violent offenders. He said the movement’s goal is not to take away all guns but to advocate for common sense control and safety laws.
Hogg is also involved in other political movements, including voting rights.
“One of my biggest frustrations is massive voter suppression, specifically for people of color,” Hogg said. “It is stupidly difficult to vote, and that is fundamentally wrong.”
Hogg and his fellow classmates embarked on a “Road To Change” tour, visiting numerous cities all across the country hosting rallies and walks to gain support for their cause. They encountered their fair share of critics along the way, and Hogg acknowledged that there were probably a few in the audience. He thanked them for listening and starting a conversation in a peaceful and considerate way.
“I don’t care if you come from the left or the right, I think its something that we can all agree on that gun violence and losing children in America is something that we cannot accept any more,” Hogg said.
