Aalayah Eastmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aalayah Eastmond
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Eastmond in 2018
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| Born | March 22, 2001 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Education | Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Trinity Washington University |
| Occupation | Activist |
Aalayah Eastmond, born on March 22, 2001, is an American activist. She speaks out for important causes like preventing gun violence, promoting fairness for everyone, and ensuring equal rights for all races. Aalayah became an activist after she survived a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. She started speaking up during the protests about gun violence in 2018.
Aalayah has shared her story and ideas many times with the U.S. Congress. She is also a leader in Team Enough, a group run by young people that works to prevent gun violence. This group is part of the Brady Campaign. After the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, Aalayah helped start a group called Concerned Citizens of DC. This group organizes protests in Washington, D.C. to support social justice. She supports the Black Lives Matter movement and speaks out against police brutality.
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Aalayah's Early Life and School
Aalayah Eastmond was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 22, 2001. Her mother is Stacey-Ann Llewellyn. When Aalayah was two years old, her uncle, Patrick Edwards, was shot and killed in Brooklyn. This sad event happened when he was leaving his mother's home.
At age four, Aalayah moved to West Virginia with her mother. She learned to play the violin when she was a child. When she was eight, they moved to Broward County, Florida. Aalayah later attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Surviving a School Shooting
On February 14, 2018, during her junior year of high school, Aalayah survived a shooting at her school. She bravely hid under the body of a classmate, Nicholas Dworet, who had passed away. This experience deeply affected her and led her to become an activist.
After graduating from high school, Aalayah spent a summer in Brownsville, Brooklyn. She lived with her aunt and worked as an intern for Governor Andrew Cuomo. Today, Aalayah studies criminal justice at Trinity Washington University.
Becoming an Activist
Aalayah Eastmond became well-known during the 2018 United States gun violence protests. As a student who survived the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, she helped lead many important protests and marches. She is a strong voice for preventing gun violence, social justice, and racial equality.
Speaking Out for Change
Aalayah and other students from her high school faced some criticism for speaking out after the shooting. However, they continued to share their stories. She attended March for Our Lives events, which are big protests for gun control. In July 2018, Aalayah spoke at a march in Brooklyn that aimed to raise awareness about gun violence. She also testified during the process of confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Aalayah is a key member of Team Enough. This is a youth-led group that works to prevent gun violence and is part of the Brady Campaign. In her role, she helps people understand how gun violence affects Black and Brown communities. Aalayah has spoken to both the U.S. House and Senate Committee on the Judiciary. She supported a bill called the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, which aimed to make gun sales safer.
Fighting for Justice
Aalayah Eastmond supports the Black Lives Matter movement. She also protests against police brutality. After the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, she helped create Concerned Citizens of DC. This group organizes protests in Washington, D.C. to support social justice issues. At the 2020 March on Washington for racial equality, Aalayah spoke about how racial justice and gun violence are connected.
Aalayah's Personal Life
Aalayah Eastmond has shared that she experienced stress after difficult events. This happened after she saw U.S. National Guard troops with M-4 rifles during the security preparations for the inauguration of Joe Biden.
