Naomi Wadler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naomi Wadler
|
|
|---|---|
Wadler in 2018
|
|
| Born | October 16, 2006 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | The Field School |
| Years active | 2018–present |
Naomi Wadler (born October 16, 2006) is an American student and activist. She speaks out against gun violence in the United States. Naomi is known for giving speeches that support victims of gun violence, especially black female victims. She gave a very notable speech at the March For Our Lives protest. She goes to The Field School in Washington, DC.
Contents
Early Life
Naomi Wadler was adopted in 2007 from an Ethiopian orphanage by Julie Wadler. Naomi's mother also adopted another daughter, Sarah, in 2009.
Naomi's father, who is African American, enjoys hunting as a hobby.
In April 2018, Naomi told Elle that she is Ethiopian Jewish. She also shared that she had faced racism at her school because of her Jewish and Ethiopian backgrounds.
Standing Up for Change
The School Walkout
On March 14, 2018, Naomi Wadler helped organize a walkout at George Mason Elementary School. About 200 students joined her. They stood silently for 18 minutes. The first 17 minutes were to remember the 17 victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The last minute was for Courtlin Arrington. Courtlin was a black girl who was a victim of gun violence at Huffman High School in Birmingham, Alabama.
Speaking at March for Our Lives
On March 24, Naomi spoke to a huge crowd at the March for Our Lives event in Washington, D.C. She was the youngest speaker there. She explained why she organized the walkout. Naomi also highlighted that a very high number of black female victims are affected by gun violence in the United States.
She had initially worried that talking about black female victims might seem "off topic." However, she felt better after learning that other students would share their own experiences. Her speech became very popular on Twitter. Many famous black actresses praised her words.
Continuing Her Activism
After the March for Our Lives, Naomi spoke at other important events. These included the Women in the World Annual Summit and the Teen Vogue summit. She received a standing ovation for her speech at the Tribeca Film Festival. There, she was given the Disruptive Innovation Award.
Naomi also appeared as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In 2020, she spoke at the Davos Economic Forum. She talked about how gun violence against black females in the United States often gets less attention. She said, "White girls’ lives matter so much more than any black girl who dies in the inner city, or on the way to school. We don’t hear about them, they’re statistics."
Naomi was named one of Teen Vogue's "21 Under 21." She also appeared on a New York Magazine cover with actress Barbra Streisand.
See also
In Spanish: Naomi Wadler para niños
