Riley Howell, after taking two shots to the torso, charged and tackled the gunman at U.N.C. Charlotte, receiving another gunshot to the head. 21-year-old Howell was known among his family and friends as someone who always helped others and was willing to sacrifice himself for another, so it did not surprise them when they got the call. Though killing himself in the process, Howell prevented the gunman from killing any of the other 59 students (minus 1 who was killed before Howell) who were in the classroom at the time.
Many school shootings have occurred in the past, but more and more recently there have been these "heroes" who sacrifice themselves to save the others by attacking the gunmen. This article can show both that we need to take action towards reducing gun violence in America, especially in schools, and that it's because of people like Riley Howell that people are able to survive these fatal shootings. The authors, Jim Dwyer and Myah Ward, take to explaining both the event itself in addition to honoring Howell by recounting some of the memories of friends and family.
Freedom Riders during the Montgomery Bus Boycott sacrificed their own lives, just as Riley Howell did, to bring awareness to the unconstitutionality of segregation in America. Many of these Freedom Riders were killed through burnings of the buses they rode or were beaten to death once they arrived to their destinations. However, in the end, the Montgomery Bus Boycott led to the decision in Browder v. Gayle, stating that bus segregation was unconstitutional, the next step in expanding the rights of African Americans in our country for the future.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/06/us/riley-howell-uncc-shooting.html
Very well written article, i liked how you compared this to the freedom riders.
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