IGNITE Statement on the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas

5/25/22 9:44 AM by Sara Guillermo
IGNITE Statement on the Robb Elementary School Shooting in Uvalde, Texas

19 students and two teachers were murdered in Uvalde, Texas yesterday. The deadliest school shooting in Texas history and the third deadliest in U.S. history. The layers of devastation our country is witnessing and experiencing each day feel insurmountable. Limiting our response to coded and politicized language to describe these attacks does a disservice to the individuals and communities continually harmed.

We must not be afraid to call out the white supremacy, anti-Blackness, and heteropatriarchy at the root of gun violence in America. We must demand policies that dismantle these systems and offer us hope for collective healing. IGNITE is not the leader in the movement for gun control. We are, however, a movement of young leaders, many of whom are leading the fight to end mass shootings, in some cases having lost friends and loved ones in such tragedies. Our young women are finding new ways to hold our leaders accountable, and they are demanding change. Their work and their voice is critical today. 

We extend our love and solidarity to the community of Robb Elementary and Uvalde. Let's not waste this moment. We need action to #EndGunViolence NOW.

Sara Guillermo, IGNITE CEO—America’s largest, most diverse organization devoted to young women’s political leadership.
Sara Guillermo
Sara Guillermo

As a founding member of the IGNITE team, Sara was instrumental in growing the organization from a small high school-based program in the California Bay Area to the largest, most diverse young women’s political leadership program in the country. Via the program model that Sara co-developed with IGNITE’s Founder, in 2020 IGNITE is on track to train upwards of 10,000 young women across 30 states to own their political power. Sara's previous leadership positions at Seeking Common Ground, Aspire Public Schools and buildOn informed her passion and expertise in community service, youth leadership development, program management and capacity building. As a breast cancer survivor, Sara is deeply committed to reforming local health care policies and systems to better meet the needs of diverse communities. She currently serves on the Concord/Pleasant Hill Healthcare Community Board where she serves as a voice to advance community healthcare priorities. Sara holds an MSW from the University of Denver and a B.A. in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz. You can reach Sara at sara@ignitenational.org.

Leave a Comment