Isabelle Thompson reflects on her harrowing experience with the shooter, asserting that Cruz was the real bully at Stoneman Douglas High School, not the students who lost their lives.
In the wake of horrific events, it’s common for survivors or observers to seek someone to blame. Following the Parkland tragedy, various figures, including gun rights advocates and online trolls, have wrongly shifted the blame onto the surviving students instead of directing it at the perpetrator.
This misplaced blame is not only absurd but also reveals a troubling lack of understanding about the complexities of such events. Isabelle Thompson, a survivor from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, articulated her pain and frustration in a poignant op-ed for the New York Times titled “I Tried to Befriend Nikolas Cruz. He Still Killed My Friends.”
In her piece, Thompson challenges the notion that the tragedy could have been avoided had students been kinder to Cruz. She recounts a distressing encounter from years prior when he assaulted her in the school cafeteria. Despite this, she attempted to support him by tutoring him in high school, only to feel uncomfortable due to his inappropriate behavior.
Thompson argues that the #WalkUpNotOut movement, which gained traction during #NationalWalkoutDay, would not have changed the outcome of the shooting at her school. “The suggestion that Mr. Cruz’s mental health issues could have been resolved through more kindness is a gross misunderstanding of mental health,” she writes, highlighting the dangerous implications of such thinking.
She emphasizes that it is not the duty of students to expose themselves to known aggressors. “The responsibility lies with the school administration and support staff to identify students in need of help,” Thompson asserts. “This may require specialized attention that the institution cannot provide.”
Her op-ed has resonated widely on social media, as few voices carry more weight in discussing the shooting than that of someone who lived through it and had direct encounters with the shooter.
How many more times must we hear from these students about the threat posed by Cruz before we stop holding them accountable for the loss of their peers? Is it really their fault for not sitting with someone known for violent behavior? The nuances of this tragedy extend well beyond simply promoting kindness; while compassion is essential, it cannot serve as a surface-level remedy.
When someone reveals their true nature, believe them.
I understand what it’s like to be targeted. To eat lunch in the restroom out of fear, or to pretend to be ill just to escape the relentless mockery of peers. I still recall the few students who showed me kindness during those tough times and am grateful for their empathy.
However, the situation surrounding the Parkland shooting is altogether different. The shooter was the bully.
A simple act of kindness towards a troubled student wouldn’t have altered the course of this tragedy or any other school shooting. “No amount of compassion or kindness could have transformed Nikolas Cruz or the horrific actions he committed,” Thompson states. “This line of thinking overlooks the real failures of our educational system, our government, and our gun regulations.”
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Summary
Isabelle Thompson, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, shares her experiences with Nikolas Cruz, highlighting that he was the real bully and criticizing the notion that kindness could have prevented the tragedy. She emphasizes the responsibility of school authorities in addressing mental health issues rather than blaming students for not befriending the shooter. This conversation reflects the need for accountability and a deeper understanding of the systemic failures that contribute to such violence.
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