How has the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting massacre affected the country? Some believe that, given time, the memories and outrage will fade, just as the other mass shootings have in the pass. Many thought that the idea of the Sandy Hook killings of little six- and seven-year-olds would cause people to demand gun control. It did not, but something new is happening now.
The Stoneman Douglas students spoke out immediately and in a way that demanded people engage in the gun violence issue. These kids have directed their anger and grief into change. They are familiar with social media, and they have had a clear message: Never Again. These high school kids have been brilliant.
Some of them went to the White House, and some went to their state capitol or Capitol Hill in Washinhttps://youtu.be/5jzyTBQHgccgton, D.C. Other students appeared on news and talk shows. Then, there are those who have organized walk-outs and a march on D.C.
The young people are intelligent and well-spoken, and their message has resonated across the country. President Barack Obama tweeted to tell them that they are the ones we have been waiting for, and we have their backs:
‘Young people have helped lead all our great movements. How inspiring to see it again in so many smart, fearless students standing up for their right to be safe; marching and organizing to remake the world as it should be. We’ve been waiting for you. And we’ve got your backs.’
Sure, the Never Again Movement made news, but does it really make a difference in the long run? The short answer is “Yes!”
MSNBC’s Morning Joe show just released the results of a new CNN/SRRS poll. The poll determined that change really is in the politics. Remarkably, people’s choices for Congress have changed dramatically.
Democrats have shot ahead five percentage points since January, moving from 54 percent to 59 percent. Republicans dropped six points, moving from 38 percent to 32 percentage points.
MSNBC’s Morning Joe show.
This poll question was asked among 909 registered U.S. voters between February 20th and 23rd. The variable was +/- 3.9 percentage points.
The new CNN/SSRS poll also asked people about their enthusiasm to vote for Congress in the upcoming midterm election in 2018. Once again, Morning Joe, showed the poll’s results.
People questioned in the poll about their enthusiasm to vote for Congress in 2018 indicated that they were either “extremely” or “very” likely to vote for the Democrats, 57 percentage points. Only 43 percent were “extremely” or “very” likely to vote for various Republicans.
MSNBC’s Morning Joe show.
The CNN/SSRS poll question was taken between February 20th and 23rd among 1,016 respondents. The percentage points of discrepancy was +/- 6.8 percentage points and 7.4 points respectively.
Clearly, the Never Again movement has made an immediate and substantial difference in the Americans’ minds. Just as the #MeToo movement and the LGBTQ movement cracked the wall of change, so too has this new movement.
President Obama is right about young people changing our world. Politicians should keep in mind that one-fourth of these young men and women can vote in the 2018 election. Then, a full three-quarters of them can vote in the 2020 presidential election.
Featured Image via Getty Images/Mark Wilson.
