Parents of three students killed in Parkland shooting to attend State of the Union

Parents of three students killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., last year will attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Fred Guttenberg will be a guest of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Andrew Pollack will be a guest of Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Manuel Oliver will be a guest of Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.).

“Tonight, gun safety will be front and center at the State Of The Union,” tweeted Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime Guttenberg, 14, in the shooting.

{mosads}“Victims of gun violence will be represented by the House, the Senate and invited by Republicans and Democrats. We may not all agree on a path forward, but we are all fighting for a safer America.” 

Tonight, gun safety will be front and center at the State Of The Union. Victims of gun violence will be represented by the House, the Senate and invited by Republicans and Democrats. We may not all agree on a path forward, but we are all fighting for a safer America.

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) February 5, 2019

Guttenberg supports stricter gun control and has advocated for provisions like universal background checks.

Pollack, who lost his daughter Meadow Pollack, 18, is a conservative activist who has advocated for greater accountability from the school district and better school security.

“Since the shooting in Parkland last year, I have gotten to know @AndrewPollackFL and his family, and I have been humbled to see their dedication to improving our state in honor of his daughter, Meadow,” Scott tweeted Monday. “I’m honored to have him as my guest at the #SOTU tomorrow night.” 

Since the shooting in Parkland last year, I have gotten to know @AndrewPollackFL and his family, and I have been humbled to see their dedication to improving our state in honor of his daughter, Meadow. I’m honored to have him as my guest at the #SOTU tomorrow night.

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) February 4, 2019

Oliver, who lost his son Joaquin Oliver, 17, in the shooting, also supports stricter gun control.

“I’ll be at the sotu tomorrow. I wonder if Trump will address the real national emergency—the 40k gun deaths that take innocent lives like my son, Joaquin’s #SOTU2019,” he tweeted on Monday. 

I’ll be at the sotu tomorrow. I wonder if Trump will address the real national emergency—the 40k gun deaths that take innocent lives like my son, Joaquin’s #SOTU2019 https://t.co/0QX1DwKP7c

— Manuel Oliver (@manueloliver00) February 4, 2019

Parkland is part of Deutch’s district. Following the shooting, he was particularly vocal about gun reform. 

Shooting survivor Cameron Kasky, 18, will also attend the speech as a guest of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). 

“In the face of unimaginable tragedy, Cameron Kasky has shown remarkable strength,” Swalwell said in a statement Friday. “He stands at the forefront of the fight for action to address gun violence.”