Newtown, CT – Sandy Hook Promise denounces the offensive and traumatic release of hoodies seemingly “inspired” by schools that have experienced shootings, including the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
“The fact that a designer would seek to profit by glamorizing the school violence that killed our children, Dylan and Daniel, and the deaths of so many more, is repugnant and deeply upsetting,” said Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden, co-founders and managing directors of Sandy Hook Promise. “This is not about inspiring change to prevent these acts of violence, nor is it a difference of politics or opinion; it is human decency to immediately halt the production of these items and apologize.”
The release of these items and the nature in which they were posted online have drawn condemnation from thousands, including others in the communities of Parkland, Virginia Tech, and Columbine, which also had styles released with their school names. To attempt to capitalize on using supposed bullet holes as a style statement is repulsive and wrong.
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About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. SHP’s mission is to prevent school violence and other forms of violence and victimization BEFORE they can happen by creating a culture of engaged youth and adults committed to identifying, intervening, and getting help for individuals who might be at risk of hurting themselves or others. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible program and policy solutions that address the “human side” of gun violence by preventing individuals from ever getting to the point of picking up a firearm to hurt themselves or others. Make the Promise at www.sandyhookpromise.org.
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Aimee Thunberg
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