How Change The Ref Is Demanding We Bring Back Lockdown To Spark A Conversation Around Gun Safety
Two of the most fearless fighters for gun safety that I respect and admire are Manuel Oliver and his wife, Patricia Oliver, who are the parents Joaquin "Guac" Oliver, who was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018.
I had the privilege of meeting them in Miami when we co-hosted an event at Soho House around gun safety, and also at the TOMS HQ in Los Angeles at an event there.
Today, they are founders of the Change The Ref (CTR), an organization created to give the kids of today the tools they need to be empowered to make changes to critical issues that affect our nation, through education, conversation, and activism.
It uses urban art and nonviolent creative confrontation to expose the disastrous effects of the mass shooting pandemic. I caught up with this courageous duo to find out more about their work.
Manuel Oliver, Founder of Change the Ref
Afdhel Aziz: Manuel and Patricia, welcome. Please tell us a little about the purpose of Change the Ref?
Manuel Oliver: Change the Ref is the organization we created in memory of our son Joaquin "Guac" Oliver. The organization’s primary purpose is to empower young generations and equip them to achieve social goals without interference from the Gun Industry or any entity represented by the gun lobbyist. We do this by calling out any discrepancy between the pursuit of happiness and the myth behind a false "guns and freedom" connection. We lost our son under a superior level of injustice; in response, we are building along with thousands of American kids a solid social justice shield that will prevent tragedies such as the one that ended Joaquin's life three years ago.
Aziz: It is a powerful and valuable thing you are creating for this generation, at a time they need it most. Please tell us about this new campaign and why you decided to create it?
Patricia Oliver: Bring Back Lockdown speaks by itself and responds to an urgent measure that all Americans should keep in mind. Our kids are risking their lives every day and everywhere in our country. Meanwhile our politicians debate about the existence of UFOs and life on other planets. They have been ignoring death in our own country and the fact that Gun violence results from the total absence of regulations in exchange for some money for political campaigns. Because of this unacceptable conduct, we gave the kids the chance to speak out and pressure Congress by promoting the fact that they felt safer by not assisting schools for the first time.
Aziz: What has been the response to the campaign so far?
Patricia Oliver: A lot of media covered the campaign, and because of its disruptive content, it has also connected very well with the youth. When you own the truth and you are lucky enough to find the right way to tell the story, the chances are that any campaign will succeed. Bring Back Lockdown is just a way of telling the truth without social or political limitations. We all know that at the end of the day, the final call will come from the youth and not from us, so we better get on board or move away.
Aziz: How would you like brands to get involved in the campaign against mass shootings?
Manuel Oliver: I'm still waiting for that first CEO capable of standing up for every single victim of Gun Violence and start relating its products or services to a commonsense society. Just like Nike took the risk with Colin Kaepernick and has already made more than $6 billion since the last ad, we invite all corporations to join our effort and take a chance with the legacy of our son Joaquin "Guac" Oliver. It's time for most brands to return their loyalty to more than 40,000 victims who are forced to stop consuming their favorite products every year.
Aziz: Finally, what advice do you have for other activists out there who want to use the power of creativity to help change the world?
Manuel Oliver: You don't have to be that creative to understand that America suffers Gun violence, and our lawmakers don't seem to have the solution. This inaction is wrong, and that should have a solid reason to become part of the solution and stop being part of the problem. Finally, and back to Nike again, "Just Do It!
About the Campaign:
As the world opens and people reemerge, school shooting survivors are making their voices heard – they demand action; they demand security. ‘Bring Back Lockdown’ leverages CTR’s use of urban art and nonviolent creative confrontation to expose the disastrous effects of the mass shooting pandemic to spark the conversation from the ground up. The film is a creative misdirection on Covid and the resulting lockdown. Its intention is to make people stop and think. Featuring Parkland student liana Waitze Zuckerman, 'Bring Back Lockdown’ leverages the Covid lockdown as a metaphor intended to spark debate and encourage people to visit www.BringBackLockdown.com, where they can petition their local congressperson, pressuring them to act on gun reforms.
