Main content

Parkland: One Year On

One year after the Florida high school shooting, author Dave Cullen reflects on how far the teenage survivors turned activists have changed America鈥檚 gun culture.

One year on, the story of the Florida high school shooting and March for our Lives campaign for gun control, as seen though the eyes of writer Dave Cullen. How far have the teenager protesters changed America鈥檚 gun culture?

On February 14 2018, fourteen students and three members of staff were shot dead at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The gunman was a 19 year-old former student of the school, armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle.

Within hours, a small group of survivors began to turn their anger, grief and pain into protest. The Never Again movement was born and, a month later, their March For Our Lives was the fourth biggest protest in US history.

For ten months following the shooting, author Dave Cullen started following the student activists for his latest book, Parkland: Birth of a Movement.

Nearly 20 years ago, he was one of the first on the scene following the Columbine high school shooting, which he documented. He has followed every high school shooting in the US since, from a distance - until Parkland. Here he saw something radically different happening, as a remarkable group of teenagers turned their grief into a catalyst for change and nationwide, youth-led demands for stricter gun laws.

He unfolds their story and reflects on their achievements in a pivotal moment in American history.

Producer: Eve Streeter
A Whistledown production for 麻豆官网首页入口 Radio 4

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Fri 8 Feb 2019 11:00

Broadcast

  • Fri 8 Feb 2019 11:00