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3 survivors of Parkland school shooting come to Boulder to talk gun violence

"This isn't just an issue that affects Florida. It affects the entire country."
Credit: Chris Hansen
Zoey Fox-Snider, Talia Rumsky, and Agu Felman survived the shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. They are waiting to speak at a rally in Boulder.

When Talia Rumsky got a text message from her friend that moved to Boulder, Talia says she knew she had to come to Colorado.

"This isn't just an issue that affects Florida. It affects the entire country," Talia said.

She is a sophomore at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She was there when the shootings started.

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"I couldn't wrap my head around what's going on," Talia said. "As I was told to run away and get away from the school, all I could think about was fear."

She and two other survivors, Agu Felman and Zoey Fox-Snider, were invited to Fairview High School by a current student at Fairview who grew up in Parkland, Florida. Talia says Fairview students raised money to fly them to Colorado and take part in their walkout, march and rally for stronger gun legislation.

"I didn't even know how big of a voice we had before and just seeing, I watch the news and I see from Missouri, from Washington, from everywhere places I couldn't imagine," Talia said. "Children and teens and adults from all over the country are really fighting to make a change."

She says knowing that Stoneman Douglas students have nationwide support is comforting.

"No one should ever have to feel the same way I did ever again," Zoey told the crowd. "Make your voices heard, because this sickening trend needs to stop."

Agu said on stage that this issue should be political. He says it's common sense.

"I respect the Second Amendment. We do have the right to bear arms, but we also have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness," Agu said.

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Talia says the month since the shootings has been a blur. But she says this is just the beginning of the fight to keep schools safe in honor of the 17 victims who died at her school.

"I think that in some way this is us trying to avenge them and try to live for them and this happen for them," Talia said.

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