Gun control activists stage school fashion show protest

BOSTON — Gun control activists in Boston staged a "back-to-school" fashion show in featuring bulletproof vests, helmets and other safety gear.

The Monday morning event at Boston City Hall plaza was meant to call for stricter gun laws.

Manuel and Patricia Oliver, the parents of one of the victims of the February massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, attended the event.

The couple started "Change the Ref" after their son, Joaquin, was killed in the shooting.

"What we did is put our skills together and turn them in this direction," Manuel Oliver said. "Joaquin was a totally trend, music, style, writing dude."

The Oliver's said the show was more important than ever after Sunday's mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida.

"I said it, many times, it will happen again, and we will keep saying it," Oliver said. "I'm saying it right now. It could happen again, and it will happen again."

Kara DeJesus of the Puerto Rican Festival of Massachusetts said she was in attendance to start a new trend.

"We are here to make a change," DeJesus said. "We don't want bulletproof vests to be on our parents' checklist. It shouldn't be necessary."

MORE: Student gun control advocates protest outside Smith & Wesson

Organizers said the event would turn City Hall plaza into a fashion show complete with a catwalk and a DJ. They also hung a large banner with the image of the Olivers' son.

Jim Wallace of the Gun Owners Action League said the lawmakers aren't addressing the real issue in the situation: mental healthcare reform.

The reform is something GOAL has lobbied for on Beacon Hill.

"I think it was a complete waste of time and energy for these kids," Wallace said. "As long as we keep allowing these people to walk among us, they're going to commit tragedies. Everybody can blame other things, they can blame the guns, they can blame somebody else. But, they're not taking into account the true problems."

Last week, the Oliver's and Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg marched with local gun control activists 50 miles to the headquarters of gun maker Smith & Wesson in Springfield.

MORE: Gun control activists marching 50 miles to Smith & Wesson HQ

Associated Press