Young activists speak out on guns

When Madeline Johnson lost her best friend in the shooting that took place at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021, she knew that she wanted to do something to create real change. 

“I was near her when it happened,” she said. “It’s obviously been pretty hard for me. I decided that I wanted to take action and change something for her and the other three that we lost, hopefully to stop things like this from happening in the future.”

Johnson, along with other Oxford students, banned together to create No Future Without Today, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. The members’ goal is to educate students and raise awareness about gun violence in schools. 

The rise of gun violence across the country has left students feeling afraid for their well-being. Some have taken it into their own hands and turned their anxieties into change that has influenced policy outcomes at the federal government level. 

“We started the early stages late winter, early spring and we’ve been working from there to kind of build up our funds and gain a following,” Johnson said. “It’s been a long process.”

Before her involvement in No Future Without Today, Johnson was active in March For Our Lives, a youth-led nonprofit organization that aims to end gun violence. 

Neelu Jaberi is chapter co-lead of the Lansing chapter of MFOL. She is a senior at Okemos High School who said she believes the voices of young people are incredibly important to create meaningful change in regard to gun violence activism. 

“Being an activist is speaking out and speaking for issues that are important,” Jaberi said. “Speaking for people that aren’t able to, bringing awareness to issues that people don’t pay attention to or look away from.”

Though Jaberi is passionate about her work as an activist against gun violence, she does not plan on pursuing a future in it after high school.

“If you were to ask me like a year ago [if I wanted to pursue a career in activism], I would’ve said yeah probably,” Jaberi said. “But this work is super draining and it’s tiring, sometimes it’s just like oh my god I can’t do this. I think politics will always be a part of my life, being a part of these organizations, being active, but I don’t think I want it to be my sole career. I don’t think I can mentally handle all of that.”

Zoey Touray, a recent graduate of Oxford High School and youth member of MFOL emphasizes the importance of young activists to prioritize their mental health while they fight.

“I would also tell each young person to kind of take a mental break,” Touray said. “Getting involved in this kind of work can be mentally daunting, just make sure you’re taking care of yourself and your mental health too.”

Though Touray speaks from her perspective as a survivor at many events, it’s not something she has always been comfortable with.

“It’s actually really funny because I hate speaking at events,” Touray said. “It’s definitely something I was thrown into and I’m getting used to it. People always say I look so comfortable when I’m speaking, I’m always freaking out before.”

Touray continues to speak up, despite her discomfort and other barriers she may face, because she continues to see shootings happening around the country.

“Not even just in schools, but in America period,” Touray said. “It makes me want to keep going because there’s so many [shootings] that pop up every single day that we don’t even know about.”

Nupur Shah is a senior at Okemos High School and is chapter co-lead of the Lansing chapter of MFOL. Shah said that as a youth activist, many older people doubt the work that she does can make a difference.

“A lot of people think we haven’t done our research and we’re sort of naive to reality,” Shah said. “Even though we have to live with it every single day, especially with gun violence. Our age group is affected by it the most with school shootings. People don’t think we’re educated enough to be able to advocate for these issues.”

Shah said it is her duty as a youth activist to fight for future generations of students to feel safe in schools.

“We don’t want other generations to have to be worried about going to school and dealing with school shootings or live with that fear,” Shah said. “We want to make our country a better place, and a place where people are proud to live in and not be afraid to live in.”

Though youth activism is draining and requires significant efforts, Johnson encourages young people to get involved and speak their minds.

“Just go for it. Speak and people will listen to you,” Johnson said. “Don’t take no for an answer. If there’s an event or anything, say you want to speak. If there’s not an event, then plan one. If you really, really want to lead something and you’re really passionate about something you can make it happen. I know that from my experience. Stop at nothing to share your opinion and share your beliefs.”

Q&A: Youth Activists

Name: Neelu Jaberi

Age: 17

Hometown: Okemos

School: Okemos High School

Organizations involved in: Chapter co-lead of Lansing March For Our Lives

What made you decide to join these organizations: I was so tired of feeling helpless and that I couldn’t really do anything, so my friends and I were like we need to do something. So we decided to start a Lansing chapter.

Issues important to you: I’m very involved with gun violence and then also pro-choice.

What being an activist means to you: Being an activist is speaking out and speaking for issues that are important, speaking for people who aren’t able to, bringing awareness to issues that people don’t pay attention to or look away from.

Why is it important for young people to get involved civically: Our voices are very important. I believe that when politicians are appealing to who is going to vote for them they look to old white males. But no, we’re the future, we’re who is going to change what’s happening. We’re the voices of today and I think that’s why the youth should be more involved because whatever happens now is going to affect us in the future.

Barriers you face as a young activist: As a young female, I feel like my voice isn’t that loud, or that people hear me but they don’t really hear me. Most of our politicians that I’ve spoken to take into account what I’m saying but they’re like, oh this 17-year-old doesn’t really know what she’s talking about, they pretty much look past me. 

Why do you continue to fight, despite these barriers: Change is happening in small little segments. We were able to push for mental health funding in Michigan, we’re working on bringing a safe storage bill to the floor to be voted on, there was the package Congress passed. So even though sometimes we get more pushback than push forward, change is still happening and what we’re doing is still important. It could save someone’s life.

Specific event/memory you have that you are proud of from your work: Last month we did a MFOL Lansing rally. That was a co-rally with all of the nation, there were like 300 plus rallies happening all over. We were able to bring out the governor and other politicians. We had about 300-500 people out there. It just showed that everyone is worried about this, it’s not just a group of kids, this is important.

Advice for other young people wanting to get involved: First off, do not be afraid. You have a voice, use your voice. Don’t think that it’s not enough or you’re alone in this because I promise you there are other people who want to join you who are already a part of organizations who will help you. 

Name: Zoey Touray

Age: 18

Hometown: Pontiac 

School: Oxford High School

Organizations involved in: March For Our Lives youth member

What made you decide to join these organizations: At first, they reached out to me and they asked me to speak at a Lansing event. I wasn’t sure about it because I was still grieving and my parents persuaded me to do it because they really wanted me to not be at home and feel sad all the time.

Issues important to you: Gun violence is my main issue.

What being an activist means to you: It’s a club that nobody wants to be a part of. But being a part of that club is probably one of the most amazing things you can be a part of once you’re in it. Meeting other survivors that are around you is probably one of the most empowering things I’ve ever done in my entire life. 

Why is it important for young people to get involved civically: Everything that’s been happening with gun violence being specifically in schools, it’s surrounding us. It’s our problem, it affects us the most. I do think young people should get involved to help change what affects them.

Barriers you face as a young activist: I encounter, at times, just adults not necessarily listening to me all the time and talking down to me.

Why do you continue to fight, despite these barriers: The amount of shootings I see happening every day. Not even just in schools, but in America period. It makes me want to keep going because there’s so many that pop up every single day that we don’t even know about.

Specific event/memory you have that you are proud of from your work: Just recently I got invited to the White House to celebrate a package that we just passed, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and I got to meet the vice president.

Advice for other young people wanting to get involved: I would tell each young person to kind of take a mental break because getting involved in this kind of work can be mentally daunting. Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself and your mental health too.

Name: Madeline Johnson

Age: 18

Hometown: Oxford

School: Oxford High School

Organizations involved in: I’m a part of No Future Without Today, which is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization started by Oxford students. I’m the co-vice president. We’re a small organization, we just started. But I have worked for MFOL in the past.

What made you decide to join these organizations: In the Oxford High School shooting on Nov. 30, my best friend was killed. I was near her when it happened, it’s obviously been pretty hard for me. I decided I wanted to take action and change something for her and the other three that we lost and hopefully to stop things like this from happening in the future.

Issues important to you: Definitely the gun reform movement, women’s rights are very important to me and rights for the LGBTQ+ community.

What being an activist means to you: To me, being an activist is using my voice, inspiring those around me to make a change. Really just inspiring others to help and inspiring people to use their voices. In my experience, it’s kind of just deciding that you aren’t going to stop until change happens.

Why is it important for young people to get involved civically: I think it’s so important because our generation is the future. One day we’re going to be the ones in office, running the world. I think it’s so important for people to start getting involved in politics and activism young to kind of learn, to get experience and to realize [for young people] what they’re passionate about and to hopefully start making a change early.

Barriers you face as a young activist: It’s definitely been difficult having people who disagree and backlash towards what I stand for. I know in our community there are lots of people who are very against the movement and No Future Without Today. It’s hard seeing people in my own community being against everything. It’s hurtful because they live in the community where the tragedy happened. Our group is not extreme, we’re not at all trying to take guns away completely, we’re simply asking for more strict laws and a safer environment. I think if people maybe listened to us they would agree, but I think the hardest part is having people who just won’t give us the time of day and won’t listen.

Why do you continue to fight, despite these barriers: I continue to fight for Madison, my best friend. Because I know that she would want me to do something about this. If she were here I know she would be right by my side. I also do this for my little siblings who have to continue going to that high school every day, and I do it for my little cousins and basically all the children in the world who are maybe scared to go to school every day, because no one should feel like that.

Specific event/memory you have that you are proud of from your work: On June 11, MFOL basically started a bunch of protests all over the country and No Future Without Today led the protest in Oxford. There were speakers and then we all marched to the high school and back. I spoke at this event and I also helped lead the march. That honestly made me want to continue activism even more because it was so nice to see the support and it was kind of a confidence boost as well, seeing that I was able to speak in front of people. 

Advice for other young people wanting to get involved: Just go for it. Just speak and people will listen to you. Don’t take no for an answer. If there’s an event or anything, say you want to speak. If there’s not an event, then plan one. If you really, really want to lead something and you’re really passionate about something you can make it happen. I know that from my experience. Stop at nothing to share your opinion and share your beliefs.

Name: Nupur Shah

Age: 17

Hometown: Okemos

School: Okemos High School

Organizations involved in: Chapter co-lead of Lansing March For Our Lives and member of Amnesty International.

What made you decide to join these organizations: [Classmate] Neelu [Jaberi] actually introduced me to it. I was super interested in the fact that it was for protesting against gun violence. I know that’s been a huge problem for our country and I really wanted to do something and be a part of the change and the process of helping our country get past this. 

Issues important to you: Gun violence, women’s rights, human rights.

What being an activist means to you: It means helping others and using your voice in order to give a voice to the people who can’t, listening to others and advocating for them.

Why is it important for young people to get involved civically: I believe that we’re the future of our country and our voices do matter, especially since we have to deal with the consequences of the actions of the people in power now. 

Barriers you face as a young activist: A lot of people think we haven’t done our research and we’re sort of naive to reality, even though we have to live with it every single day, especially with gun violence. Our age group is affected by it the most with school shootings. People don’t think we’re educated enough to be able to advocate for these issues.

Why do you continue to fight, despite these barriers: We don’t want future generations to have to deal with what we have to deal with. We don’t want other generations to have to be worried about going to school and dealing with school shootings or live with that fear. We want to make our country a better place, and a place where people are proud to live in and not be afraid to live in.

Specific event/memory you have that you are proud of from your work: At the beginning of the summer we held a rally for MFOL and I spoke at it. We had our governor [Gretchen Whitmer] and [U.S. Rep] Elissa Slotkin come to speak at it. Seeing the turnout and seeing how many people supported us really made me proud of what we did. Seeing the anger and the pain of what people go through and how they’re still willing to come out and speak about it, it made me realize that what we do has purpose.

Advice for other young people wanting to get involved: It’s never too late or too early to start, you always have a place somewhere you can help out. Even if it’s very little things, your efforts are so appreciated and it definitely makes a difference, no matter what you do.