Manuel Simmons, father of a Parkland shooting victim, was taken into custody after scaling a construction crane in Washington, D.C., as a form of protest on the fourth anniversary of the tragic event. His son, 17-year-old Joaquin “Guac” Simmons, was among the 17 victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Since his son’s death, Simmons has channeled his grief into activism, particularly through art aimed at combating gun violence.
On the anniversary of the shooting, Simmons ascended a 150-foot crane to broadcast a vital message. Alongside an associate, he unfurled a large banner directed at President Biden, criticizing him for what activists perceive as unfulfilled promises regarding gun control. The banner read, “45K people died from gun violence on your watch!” and featured a portrait of his son, along with a QR code linked to a project tracking gun violence under Biden’s administration.
Before unveiling the banner, Simmons shared his intentions on social media, stating, “the whole world will listen to Joaquin today. He’s got a very important message.” He expressed frustration over not receiving a meeting with Biden, a request he made a month prior. Shortly after the protest, police removed Simmons and his accomplice from the crane.
The advocacy group Change the Ref, which Simmons co-founded with his wife, confirmed his arrest. In December, Simmons had previously traveled to D.C. hoping for a conversation with the President about strategies to address gun violence, emphasizing that time is of the essence.
Although President Biden has yet to respond directly to Simmons’s protest, he acknowledged the anniversary of the shooting and reiterated his administration’s commitment to reducing gun crime, stating that they stand with those impacted by gun violence.
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Summary: Manuel Simmons, whose son was a victim of the Parkland shooting, was arrested after climbing a crane in D.C. to protest gun violence on the shooting’s anniversary. He displayed a banner criticizing President Biden and expressing his desire for action on gun control. While Biden has yet to respond to the protest, he acknowledged the anniversary and emphasized his administration’s commitment to reducing gun crime.
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