Cambridge Students Memorialize Parkland Victims in a Display of Unity

On the morning of March 14, Cambridge students and staff braved almost-freezing temperatures to show solidarity, support and unity in memorializing the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month.

The event, dubbed the “Unity Demonstration,” took place at the same time as hundreds of other student-led demonstrations across the country saw students walking out of their schools, and holding rallies to protest gun violence on the shooting’s one-month anniversary.

To kick it off, 17 student speakers gave a speech about each of the 17 victims at Stoneman Douglas.

They wore white T-shirts with victims’ names on them and slogans such as “fear has no place in schools.”

As each of them spoke, the sea of viewing students was motionless. Even as the freezing winds swept through the courtyard, students stood with no complaints or comments.

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Opinions and A&E Editor Daniel Jimenez

Seniors Kayla Quilichini, Taylor Small, and Haley Allen honoring the Parkland shooting's victims.

A crowd of teenagers, who one would typically hear with rowdy chattering, stood silent.

Afterward, members of the school’s chorus came onto the stage and sang in tribute to the victims and survivors, and class president Cole Mantas delivered a speech.

“We can all come together to be better people,” Mantas said in his speech.

After Mantas spoke, sophomores Leah Capomaccio, Lily Parzych and Ashley Lombres, who helped to organize the event, took to the stage. Their speech, which they delivered together, said, “United we are strong. United we are inspired. United we are heard. United we are change.”

Towards the end of their speech, Capomaccio and Parzych began to speak about being “silenced” by Fulton County Schools and said the speech they gave was not the one they originally intended to make.

At that moment, the microphone was cut off and they left the stage. After this, the demonstration was then dismissed.

A few minutes later, the two girls, standing on a picnic bench in the courtyard, began reading a speech advocating for stricter gun control laws. They also passed out printed copies of the speech to students who gathered nearby.

English Department Chair and student council sponsor Michelle Morris told Capomaccio and Parzych to stop, and the girls were taken to the administration office later in the day. Neither of them faced disciplinary action.

Administrators said the demonstration was meant to display the school’s unity in the wake of the tragedy, as well as solidarity with its victims and survivors.

“I wanted to represent the victims well,” said sophomore Manasi Rathore, who spoke for victim Helena Ramsay.

Sophomore Jacob Kim, who spoke for victim Luke Hoyer, said he hopes the message will reverberate through the community.

“I hope people keep talking about [the Unity Demonstration],” said Kim.

Many aim to bring more unity and kindness in the community through this demonstration and convey a message of peace.

“I hope the effect is caring more,” said Principal Edward Spurka after the demonstration was concluded. “Care for others, be kind to others. We have to be invested in other people.”