Ryan Deitsch, a student activist from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and Dejuan Patterson, executive director of the BeMore Group, sit down with Michele and Igor to discuss efforts they are both taking to prevent gun violence and how we can prioritize perspectives from young people of color in the conversation. Patterson shares his personal experience with gun violence in Baltimore, when after he was robbed and shot in the head, the police presumed he was the perpetrator of a crime. Deitsch also shares how he was put off by interactions with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) following the shooting in Parkland, Florida, and his suggestions for all elected officials: Open your DMs.
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Michele Jawando is a vice president at the Center for American Progress. Igor Volsky is a vice president at the Center. Sally Tucker is the radio coordinator for Communications at the Center. Rachel Rosen is the senior director of Broadcast Communications at the Center.