Six weeks after the deadly Parkland shooting, student Emma Gonzalez, continues her advocacy towards stronger regulation on U.S. firearms. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student gave a tearful tribute on March 24, following the national outcry for NRA compliance on stricter gun laws. However before the fiery 18 year-old became the face of outrage experienced by both fellow survivors, parents, and families of the deceased, Gonzalez was much like any high school senior trying to navigate her way through early adulthood. Now the grief stricken teen, who once defined herself as a lover of crocheting, Netflix, and craft projects, is defining herself under new terms–an aspiring public-speaker only being one of them. Here are five little-known facts about Emma Gonzalez, many of which are continuing to bud in the public eye, as NRA and student tensions continue to worsen.
1. She is an aspiring activist
Emma Gonzalez is using her outspoken personality to channel her inner politician. Gonzalez has co-founded the ” Never Again,” movement, which is a newly formed gun-control advocacy group determined to bring about legislation to ban the sale of guns to teenagers, and those unfit to own a weapon.
2. She is no stranger to leadership
Gonzalez is the president of her school’s gay-straight alliance club. The teen uses her experiences as both a woman of color and a queer individual to educate others on the importance of respect and acceptance in shared spaces like educational institutions and places of work.
3. She has more social media prominence than the NRA
Just days after the teen made her fist public appearance on February 17th, Gonzalez gained a whopping 1 million followers in the course of two days. Ironically enough she has garnered more followers than the NRA, and is continuing to prove that many fellow Americans side with her stance on the state of gun-control.
4. Her bravery is being met with criticism
Not everyone is in support of Gonzalez, and her belief that the NRA readily accepts money from gun enthusiasts and potential shooters alike, in exchange for the lives of American school children.
She was verbally attacked by Republican candidate Leslie Gibson, who was previously in the running for the Maine Legislature early this month. Gibson, a lifetime NRA member referred to her as a “skinhead lesbian,” at which point former state senator Thomas Martin made a formal apology on her behalf, stating Gibson’s remarks did not reflect the views of the Maine Republican Party. Gibson dropped out of the race shortly afterward.
5. She is planning for the future
Despite recent events, the seemingly fearless teen is still mapping out her future and has not disclosed if she will take a more conventional interest in politics.
Gonzalez is reportedly looking to attend the New College of Florida, but until then is looking forward to graduating from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in April of this year.
