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Student Saoi marches in solidarity with survivors of Florida shooting

April 12th, 2018 10:10 PM

By Kieran O'Mahony

Skibbereen student Saoi O'Connor

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Saoi O'Connor, aged 15,  marched along with her class mates Amy Zachariah, Greta Onusaittye and Mairin Dineen from Paul Street to Grand Parade.

WHEN a Skibbereen student heard about the ‘March for Our Lives’ event taking place worldwide, the civic-minded Junior Cert organised a march in Cork city to show solidarity with the young survivors of the Parkland Florida school shooting.

Saoi O’Connor, aged 15,  marched along with her class mates Amy Zachariah, Greta Onusaittye and Mairin Dineen from Paul Street to Grand Parade.

‘I contacted the survivors in Florida including Cameron Kasky via social media as soon as the marches began to be planned in the USA. He thanked us for reaching out to them and told us he really appreciated our support,’ Saoi told The Southern Star.

‘We wanted to echo the USA marches in a show of solidarity between young people from across the world. We all believe we can make the world a better place if each of us stands up and is counted.’

The small but passionate group were delighted to welcome the President of UCC, Professor Patrick O’Shea who came to stand with them as they held 17 minutes of silence to commemorate the 17 young people killed in Florida.

Saoi’s parents Isolda and Brendan, who also attended the march, said they are very proud of her and described her ‘as a star’ and an activist.

‘Social media was powerful in this case as Saoi went online and was able to make contact with Cameron Kasky in Flordia and with another boy in Dublin who also organised an event there,’ said Isolda.

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