“Violence is as American as cherry pie.”
— H. Rap Brown, ca. 1968
They fell in the softness of April.
They were cut down in ordinary time.
The children were blameless as angels.
This was not supposed to happen here.
The first responders were heroes.
The teachers were incredibly brave.
The toll could have been much higher.
This was not supposed to happen here.
The shooter must have been crazy.
This was an act of pure evil.
Violence doesn’t solve anything.
This was not supposed to happen here.
This is not who we are.
We are a close-knit community.
We are neighbors helping neighbors.
This was not supposed to happen here.
Violence doesn’t solve anything.
This is not who we are.
They fell in the softness of April.
This was not supposed to happen here.