Obama praises ‘fearless’ Florida shooting survivors: ‘We’ve got your backs’

Former President Obama praised survivors of last week’s school shooting in Florida for speaking out following the attack, calling them “smart” and “fearless” and promising “we’ve got your backs.”

Young people have helped lead all our great movements. How inspiring to see it again in so many smart, fearless students standing up for their right to be safe; marching and organizing to remake the world as it should be. We’ve been waiting for you. And we’ve got your backs.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 22, 2018

Obama joins his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, voicing support for the students. On Wednesday, Michelle Obama tweeted she was “in total awe” and pledged she and Barack Obama were “behind [them] every step of the way.”

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton also defended the Parkland, Fla., survivors on Twitter on Wednesday, saying they have “shown so much courage in standing up for the truth” in the face of conspiracy theories that some of them are in fact “crisis actors.”

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Survivors of the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have emerged as strong advocates for gun control following the attack.

Some of them have traveled to Florida’s state capitol to encourage lawmakers to take up gun control reform, and many are also planning a march later this year in Washington, D.C., to demand action on gun violence.

The students also took center stage at a CNN town hall Wednesday, questioning lawmakers on the future of gun control legislation and pushing them to refuse future donations from the National Rifle Association.

Barack Obama pushed for stricter gun control laws during his administration, particularly after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but struggled to get measures through Congress.