A poignant moment from the recent March For Our Lives event highlights a grave reality faced by children in American schools today. During the march, a six-year-old distributed lollipops, each carrying a chilling message. This is emblematic of the necessity for movements advocating for gun control.
While attending the march, librarian Sarah Thompson from Boston received a lollipop from a young boy. Attached to it was a note that read, “This is the prize I get for staying silent during active shooter drills.”
The innocence of the lollipop, a treat often given to children for countless reasons, starkly contrasts with the terrifying reality of kids hiding in classrooms during lockdown situations. The image is not only jarring but deeply unsettling, serving as a wake-up call about the state of our society.
The concept has become so prevalent that a movement known as #LollipopsForLockdown has emerged, aimed at providing teachers with lollipops to help ease the anxiety during such drills. How did we arrive at this point? It’s utterly disgraceful that lawmakers can witness this scenario and yet remain unmoved to advance stricter gun laws.
Responses on social media reflect the widespread outrage stirred by Sarah’s tweet, as individuals across the globe expressed their sorrow and disbelief.
It’s frustrating to see states invest millions in arming teachers while parents are left to “arm” them with lollipops. As a mother of a two-year-old, the thought of my child in a classroom sucking on a lollipop during a lockdown drill is enough to make me consider relocating our family to a safer place.
Recently, at a family gathering, I observed a group of elementary school children playing. My eight-year-old nephew turned off the lights to play video games in the basement, prompting one of his friends to remark, “Oh, this is just like a lockdown drill.” The room fell into an eerie silence, as the adults instinctively froze, struck by the weight of his words. My family, comprised of educators, is all too familiar with the implications of such drills, yet hearing that child’s comment still left us all heartbroken.
Sarah encapsulated our collective feelings perfectly: we need to take action.
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In summary, the story of this lollipop serves as a stark reminder of why movements like March For Our Lives are crucial. Our children deserve to feel safe in their schools, not to be conditioned to remain silent in fear.