It's Manny and Patricia Oliver.

We had to reach out with a quick note – because this week marks seven years since we lost our son Joaquin to a mass shooting in the halls of his high school alongside 16 others.

But just last month – and only a day after Donald Trump abolished the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention we protested and fought for – our country witnessed another deadly school shooting in Antioch, TN.

2024 was the DEADLIEST year on record for mass school shootings.

And because Trump and Republicans across the country refuse to act, 2025 could be more of the same devastation.

That’s why we’re fighting to make sure no other family will ever be torn apart like ours was seven years ago.

If you’re ready to join us: Read Joaquin’s story and chip in $15 – or whatever you can spare – to help us and BAWN continue the work to ban assault rifles and end mass shootings for good. >>

— Forwarded Message —

From: Patricia and Manuel Oliver

As students and their families head back to school, we want to share the story of our son Joaquin (“Guac”), who was slaughtered in his school alongside 16 other students, educators, and staff. But if you can’t read our son’s full story, will you chip in $15 to help Ban Assault Weapons NOW! fight to elect champions who will work to eradicate assault weapons like the one that took our son from us? We’re personally asking if you’ll help BAWN hit their budget goal of 500 gifts before midnight. Your support means more to us than you can understand. >>

Guac and us enjoying a meal out

Seven years ago our son Joaquin walked into his high school – and never walked back out.

Guac was 17.

He had only a few months to go before graduating when he was murdered in the halls of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a gunman with an assault rifle.

Seven years, and THOUSANDS of mass shootings later, our elected leaders still haven’t passed a ban on assault weapons like the one that stole our son.

The truth is: The United States is the only nation where we send our kids to school and don’t know if they’ll come home on the bus or in body bags.

And now, students across the country are returning to their schools for a new year.

Our children deserve better than dying in the halls of their schools. Our educators and school staff members deserve better. They deserve to live. But unless we kick out every cowardly politician that refuses to support a federal assault weapons ban and support gun safety Democrats, our schools will NEVER be safe. That’s why we’re asking you to stand alongside our family and BAWN, help us elect gun safety Democratic candidates who will amplify our voices, and FINALLY get assault weapons out of our communities. But, we are still 500 gifts behind our critical goal. Can you chip in $15 in these last 12 hours to say you’re with us? >>

We made a promise in our hearts to never let Guac’s death be in vain.

He is a fierce advocate for gun safety – now we continue his fight.

In 2023, we spent the summer traveling to the sites of modern mass shootings to spread Guac’s message and pressure our lawmakers to take action to end gun violence.

Inside Guac’s Magical School Bus with Sam Schwartz

We even drove 23 school buses to the National Rifle Association’s HQ, which resemble the 1,252 children shot and killed in 2023.

But in the years since, we’ve seen record-levels of mass shootings – including at 35 schools in 2024, and a deadly school shooting in January 2025.

The pain – the loss – the families ripped apart… It’s devastating. It’s horrifying.

And we have a duty to put an end to it.

So, we’re asking you to join our fight too – because we need everyone on our side if we’re going to put an end to these mass slaughters. Please, will you pitch in $15 to help us make 2025 the year we stamp out school shootings and mass shootings of all kinds? If 500 gun safety champions step up before BAWN’s Deadline in 12 hours, they’ll secure the funds to put pressure on every single lawmaker to pass an assault weapons ban and the funds to kick out those lawmakers who refuse to fight for the people. Can we count on you? Each and every contribution goes to electing gun safety candidates and DEFEATING the gun lobby’s cronies in Congress. >>

Chip in $15 now >>

Chip in $25 now >>

Chip in $50 now >>

Chip in $100 now >>

Chip in another amount now >>

Thanks for fighting alongside us,

Patricia and Manny Oliver
Parents of Joaquin Oliver
Founders of Change the Ref

PS: Get tickets to see “Guac: A One Man Show” in Washington, DC, where Manuel will tell Joaquin’s story on stage. >>