Hi friends,

The jury’s verdict was released earlier last month, and I’ve been sitting with what it all means. Since I lost my daughter, Gina Montalto, only fourteen, in the Parkland school massacre, my life’s work has been to make sure that no other father or family member will ever have to feel this kind of grief. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read these reflections and then consider donating to Stand with Parkland’s school safety movement and honor the legacy of the victims that has been born from this tragedy.

My daughter, Gina Rose Montalto.

Our founding families are shocked that the jury chose not to use the fullest extent of the law to punish the admitted mass murderer of our loved ones, and we are concerned about the message their verdict sends to our nation’s students and teachers.

To be clear: the system – schools, mental health, law enforcement, and now the justice system – failed my daughter Gina, her classmates, and teachers that were murdered.

The system is biased against the victims. This injustice must be fixed. The victims’ rights must be recognized.

The legacy and greatness of the victims is being preserved and extended because Stand with Parkland succeeded in creating the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse, which held the first National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security this week. We will work to make our nation’s schools safer for your families, for other students and teachers. 

Join us and have your voice heard in the halls of power.

I had the opportunity to talk to MSNBC’s José Díaz-Balart about the shock, surprise, and disbelief that I and many other Parkland families feel. We also discussed what Stand with Parkland is doing moving forward. Watch the interview here.

Finally, I hope you’ll take a moment to read the statement on the jury’s decision. Stand with Parkland's mission to keep schools safe and prevent tragedies like the one that took Gina, her classmates, and her teachers does not end with this verdict. 

Our movement pushes forward. Join us and let your voice be heard. Will you consider sending in a donation to help keep America’s schools safe in a pragmatic, bipartisan way? 

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Thank you for being a part of this community, friend.

— Tony Montalto
President of Stand with Parkland