WASHINGTON — Less than 24 hours after four students were shot and killed in a school shooting in Michigan, Manuel Oliver got on a plane to D.C. to try and talk to President Joe Biden about gun violence across the country.
Oliver's son, Joaquin, was killed at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida in 2018.
Oliver said he doesn't have a formal invitation to see President Biden, but plans to go to the White House Thursday to ask for answers on what policies are being put in place to bring about change.
“There is no time for a formal invitation, and I’m here," Oliver said. "We don’t need to waste any more time. I’m going to do something that I haven’t done yet. I’m going back to a person I already met while he was campaigning for president and I’m planning to have him receive me and I want some answers. Everything that we talked about, what’s the agenda, what’s the plan? Since Joaquin was murdered, more than 150,000 people have lost their lives because of gun violence.”
Oliver said this is not a red or blue issue, rather an ethical one. He said thoughts and prayers can no longer be a term used without action put forth.
“I’m not a campaigner of any party in particular," Oliver said. "I don’t want to be into politics, I think this is an ethical problem. They’re killing our kids. I know how it feels. I don’t have my son anymore and I’m the one that is here, so I’m telling everyone we need to prevent this from happening starting now. Do something.”