Statements from Virginia Education Association, NEA Presidents on Shooting Outside Huguenot High School Graduation in Richmond
June 7, 2023
June 7, 2023
VEA President Dr. James J. Fedderman and NEA President Becky Pringle issued statements after the shooting outside the Altria Theater at Huguenot High School’s graduation in Richmond, Virginia, late this afternoon:
“I am devastated by horrific mass shooting outside the Huguenot graduation ceremony in Richmond today. It’s been five months to the day since the shooting of an educator in Newport News, also in our state. When will I stop having to react to these terrible events? While there is much we do not yet know about this attack, here is what we do know: all our children deserve to be safe from gun violence. But they are not–today we lost two people, including a young man who was celebrating his graduation. We cannot continue to simply tolerate the senseless violence affecting our community. To do so means abandoning hope for tomorrow. Classrooms and campuses must be safe havens where students, educators and all in our communities feel welcomed and where learning is celebrated.”
James Fedderman
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, as well as all the students, families and educators who will carry the trauma of today’s events with them. Schools should be the safest place in our towns and cities, but once again, another community has been shattered by gun violence. A graduation ceremony that began as a joyous night of celebration senselessly turned into tragedy. Thoughts and prayers simply are not enough to keep our communities safe. This is yet another reminder of the horrifying realities students, parents, and educators face every day. We are heartbroken. We are tired. We are angry. We must continue to come together to end the preventable epidemic of gun violence that is tearing this country apart. And to those so-called leaders who refuse to do anything to protect our babies from being murdered, we will hold you accountable.”
Becky Pringle
According to the Economic Policy Institute, teachers in Virginia earn 67 cents on the dollar compared to other (non-teacher) college-educated workers. Virginia’s teacher wage penalty is the worst in the nation.
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