Parkland dad slams Alyssa Milano's comments blaming the NRA: 'She needs to learn her facts'
From throwing her support behind Christine Blasey Ford at last week’s Brett Kavanaugh hearings to demanding an investigation into reports of abuse at child migrant detention centers in Arizona, Alyssa Milano has emerged as a very outspoken advocate for social justice.
Her activism took her to Parkland, Fla., on Sunday, where the actress spoke at the Actions for Change festival to support the community still dealing with February’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
A post shared by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) on Sep 30, 2018 at 7:01pm PDT
According to local news affiliate WLRN, Milano worked to register voters ahead of the midterms. She also spoke critically of the National Rifle Association (NRA), saying the gun rights organization’s influence on the country helped give rise to mass shootings.
But that argument isn’t sitting well with one man whose daughter died in the Parkland shooting.
Andrew Pollack, father of slain student Meadow Pollack, took to Twitter Monday to chide Milano for blaming the NRA without “learning her facts.”
Pollack said that “the FBI, Sheriff [Scott] Israel, mental illness counselors, school administrators, and failed diversionary programs” were responsible for the deadly attack.
.@Alyssa_Milano in her speech in Parkland blamed the @NRA for the shooting that killed my daughter. She needs to learn her facts before she speaks
The FBI, Sherrif Israel, mental illness counselors, school administrators & failed diversionary programs are to blame.
Not the NRA
— Andrew Pollack (@AndrewPollackFL) October 1, 2018
Pollack, who has continued to support President Trump and Gov. Rick Scott, has pushed for tighter school safety measures since his teen daughter’s death.
I am not doing this to get famous, I am doing this so no family ever again has to feel the way my family feels. There are no excuses! We must have proper security in every school in America! I will not stop until that is accomplished. We must #FixIt! #MeadowsMovement pic.twitter.com/Hz6v9S9vrI
— Andrew Pollack (@AndrewPollackFL) April 11, 2018
Milano’s anti-NRA stance may have upset Pollack, but she’s maintained close ties to other Parkland parents. Manuel Oliver, father of Joaquin “Guac” Oliver who died in the shooting, has recently praised Milano as an “amazing woman” and joined her at Sunday’s festival.
Inspiring night at the @Actions4Change Festival in Parkland with some of the best people I know. pic.twitter.com/QV5dmtGkM3
— Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) October 1, 2018
This is an amazing woman. Thank you @Alyssa_Milano for everything you do… https://t.co/4cnge9Tyae
— Manuel Oliver (@manueloliver00) September 27, 2018
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Christine Blasey Ford is being shamed for having vocal fry — here’s what that is
Alyssa Milano shares powerful #whyididntreport essay about her sexual assault
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