Crow refuses to apologizes

Predictably, things are not going well for Jason Crow after his bizarre decision to politicize a tragedy in his district.

In case you missed it…

The Gazette: EDITORIAL: It is past time to secure our schools
In addition to brazenly politicizing the vigil, Crow blasted anyone concerned enough to pray on the day of the killing. Copying other left-wing politicians from prior shootings, Crow tweeted his unoriginal opposition to the sentiment of “thoughts and prayers” for the injured and dead.

Free Beacon: Rep. Crow (D) Refuses to Apologize for Pushing Gun-Control at STEM Shooting Vigil
Crow, a freshman who represents STEM in the U.S. House of Representatives, released a statement defending remarks he made at a vigil on Wednesday organized by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. The remarks, along with those made by Colorado’s senior Senator Michael Bennet (D.), triggered a massive walkout from students and survivors of the shooting. The students accused both Crow and Bennet of politicizing their grief in favor of their gun-control agenda.

Denver Post: STEM School students protest political nature of vigil, prompting apology from gun control group
Eriqat and his friends came to the high school from the first vigil at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, an emotional service full of STEM families that left many in tears. Seated in the upper reaches of the gym, some students started to get upset when Crow and Bennet, a presidential candidate, took the microphone, calling for Washington to fix the country’s broken gun laws.

The Denver Channel: ‘It’s about Kendrick’: STEM students say they walked out of event in order to hold their own vigil
“I was there for Kendrick and the survivors and my friends, and to see that put to the wayside to focus on a political agenda was disheartening and not what we were going for,” said another STEM student, Joanne Fuchs. “And I think that’s when a lot of people started getting angry with it. We said this isn’t for us, and we went downstairs and had our moment there. We gave hugs and said, ‘It’s about Kendrick.’ And that’s when we decided to walk out.”

KDVR: STEM students upset they weren’t invited to speak at vigil, frustrated at political tone
“It turned into a political situation, and the kids don’t want to be used as a prop,” one attendee said.
There were calls to let STEM students speak after Democratic politicians, Congressman Jason Crow and Sen. Michael Bennet, addressed the crowd.

Colorado Public Radio: Frustrated With Adults, STEM School Shooting Survivors Take Over Vigil In Highlands Ranch
The event later turned tumultuous as students rebelled against a program that they believed gave too much time to politics and not enough to the students of STEM School Highlands Ranch who wanted to share their thoughts and to remember Kendrick Castillo, their 18-year-old classmate who was killed in the attack.
“They were just talking about Kendrick like he was a prop and that wasn’t something I could handle,” said Christopher, a 17-year-old senior at STEM School.

Washington Post: ‘Not a statistic’: Students walk out of Colorado shooting vigil to condemn politics and press
Hundreds attended the vigil — students, teachers, activists and elected officials — to honor Kendrick Castillo, the 18-year-old who was fatally shot Tuesday at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in suburban Denver. But Castillo’s classmates were moved to protest after two invitees, Sen. Michael F. Bennet (D-Colo.) and Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), spoke. Many of the teenagers at the vigil — at the nearby Highlands Ranch High School — perceived the speeches as politicizing their trauma when they wanted their own voices heard.

USA Today: Students walk out of Colorado school shooting vigil, saying their trauma was being politicized
The event Wednesday was primarily billed as a vigil to honor Kendrick Castillo, who was fatally shot in a rampage by two students at the STEM school here. Speakers at the school’s packed gymnasium, however, were mostly politicians and advocates pressing Congress for more restrictive gun laws.
After about 30 minutes, hundreds of students from the STEM School stormed out yelling “this is not for us,” “political stunt” and “we are people, not a statement.”

Fox News: Tucker Carlson: Vultures treat the Colorado shooting like a political prop – our kids deserve so much more
Congressman Jason Crow and Sen. Michael Bennet, both Democrats, attended the prayer vigil. They were not there to offer prayers. They were there to belittle prayer, and instead hold a campaign rally.

Fox News: ‘Too soon’: Whoopi Goldberg pushes back on Dems who showed up to vigil after shooting
Liberal “The View” host Whoopi Goldberg criticized Democratic politicians who spoke at a vigil in the wake of the Colorado school shooting on Tuesday, prompting a massive student walkout.
“I think the politicians went too soon. I don’t think they should have been there yesterday,” she said. “I think the kids should have had the time to be with each other.”
She appeared to refer to Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Co., who is also running for the 2020 Democratic nomination, and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Co., both of whom spoke at a school vigil organized by prominent gun control advocacy groups.

Daily Mail: Students storm out of vigil for Denver school shooting victims chanting ‘mental health’ in protest at groups ‘politicizing’ their grief after speeches by pro-gun control lawmakers
Democrat congressmen Michael Bennet and Jason Crow were invited to speak, while STEM students were invited to attend the vigil – one of two that took place yesterday.
But, as the political speeches wore on, STEM students became frustrated that they had not been allowed to take the microphone and stormed out.

Buzzfeed: Survivors Of The Colorado School Shooting Stormed Out Of A Vigil, Calling It A “Political Stunt”
Hundreds of grieving students, parents, and community members packed the Highlands Ranch school’s gym, but their anger and frustration became apparent after none of the STEM students themselves had a chance to speak about Castillo at the vigil.
Instead, several speakers — including Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Michael Bennet, Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, and a Moms Demand Action volunteer, Laura Reeves — addressed the need for gun control legislation.

Slate: Colorado High School Students Walk Out of Vigil for Shooting Victim Because It Felt Like a “Political Stunt”
The event was organized by a gun control group called the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. According to USA Today, many students appeared to have been unaware that the event was organized by an advocacy group. A half-hour in, after Sen. Michael F. Bennett and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado spoke about gun regulations, the students became furious at what they saw as the politicization of their trauma.

Washington Examiner: Colorado students walk out and chant ‘mental health’ in protest at calls for gun control during shooting vigil
2020 presidential candidate Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America activists made remarks that prompted some students to leave. Students then held their own vigil outside and chanted “mental health” in response to the calls for more gun control.

Daily Wire: BACKFIRE: Anti-Gun Group Faces Backlash For Politicizing Vigil For School Shooting
Twitter user Jeff Doser, who says his son attends the STEM school, wrote on Twitter: “My son attends Stem and was there yesterday. I took him to a ‘vigil’ tonight at one of the Highlands Ranch High School. It turned out to be a political anti-gun violence event with Colorado Senator Michael Bennett and Rep James Crow. All the Stem kids walked out.”