WASHINGTON — The local news media today reported that at least three people were killed in a shooting inside a south St. Louis high school.
The following statement can be attributed to Missouri NEA President Phil Murray and NEA President Becky Pringle:
“School should be the safest place in our towns and cities, but once again, another school community has been shattered by gun violence. Safe, quality schools are environments where students from every place and of every race and religion have the freedom to imagine, create, and thrive. Our students and educators deserve nothing less, and when it comes to our students’ safety, we will travel to the ends of the Earth and back before we ever back down. News of the shooting today at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, Missouri, is another reminder of the horrifying realities educators, students and parents face every day. Schools should be safe for students and employees.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, as well as all the students and educators who will carry the trauma of today’s events with them. We want to thank the dedicated first responders whose swift action was essential, especially the school resource officer who apprehended the shooter and kept more innocent lives from being lost. And we call on policymakers in Jefferson City and Washington to do their jobs and end this uniquely American epidemic of gun violence.
“Safe schools are essential to safe communities where students and their families can walk to school and shop at the grocery store. Each and every one of us deserves to attend religious services, a concert, or a movie without fear or threat of violence. We can’t have safe schools without safe communities. Missouri NEA and the National Education Association are committed to working with our local members and the school district to ensure that students and employees get the emotional and physical support they need to begin recovering from this tragedy.”
Follow Missouri NEA on Twitter at @MissouriNEA
Follow NEA on Twitter at @NEAmedia and @BeckyPringle
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About Missouri NEA
The Missouri NEA represents the 32,000 public school employees dedicated to Missouri’s students and is affiliated with the 3 million-member NEA. Find out more at www.mnea.org.
About the National Education Association
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
Media Contact
- Mark Jones and Staci Maiers
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