What to Know
- An artist whose son was killed during the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida last year has created a mural in Manhattan to honor the victims
- Joaquin Oliver was one of 17 students and adults who died in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018
- On Thursday, his father spoke with News 4 about his new mural at West 29th Street and Sixth Avenue in Chelsea
An artist whose son was killed during the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida last year has created a mural in Manhattan to honor the victims.
Joaquin Oliver was one of 17 students and adults who died in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018.
On Thursday — the anniversary of the shooting — Joaquin’s father Manuel Oliver spoke with News 4 about his new mural at West 29th Street and Sixth Avenue in Chelsea.
On first glance, the piece looks like a Valentine’s Day mural; it actually depicts Cupid pointing an AR-15 rifle at a heart emblazoned with the number “17."
"You stole my heart," lettering on the mural reads.
“The reason why I’m here is because I want to make noise,” Oliver told News 4. “I don’t want to be silent today.”
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At a press conference on the same day the mural was unveiled, Parkland survivor and student activist Emma Gonzalez reflected on the tragedy.
“Every day, I feel the same; every day, my friends feel the same. Every day it feels like the shooting is happening again, or happened yesterday, or will happen tomorrow,” Gonzalez said.
The newly-unveiled mural has given Oliver an opportunity to express his grief while fighting for gun reform.
“My son is already dead. I’m not joining this fight because I can save my son,” he said. “I am doing this because I can save your kids.”
