Parkland father puts bulletproof vest on ‘Fearless Girl’ statue

Change the Ref

The father of a student killed during February’s school shooting in Parkland, Fla., put a bulletproof vest on the “Fearless Girl” statue in New York on Friday to protest mass shootings in America.

Manuel Oliver, whose son, Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, was one of 17 people killed inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine’s Day, placed the vest on the statue to create “#FearfulGirl,” according to a statement.

The vest stayed on the statue for one hour before it was peacefully removed.

{mosads}“The Fearless Girl is undeniably brave, but bravery isn’t bulletproof,” Oliver’s group, Change the Ref, said in a Friday statement.

The sculpture by Kristen Visbal was placed in front of the “Charging Bull” last year before International Women’s Day 2017, and has since become a popular tourist attraction.

Officials said earlier this year that it will be moved to a safer location for spectators, away from its crowded original location on Broadway Avenue.  

Manuel Oliver has made several art installations in the wake of the Parkland shooting to protest gun violence, including depicting President Trump as a ringleader of a circus outside the annual National Rifle Association convention in May. 

He unveiled a life-size, 3D-printed sculpture of his son in Times Square last week to protest the legality of 3D-printed guns.

The figure is dressed how Joaquin Oliver was dressed on the day he died and was personalized with accessories to depict his character.

“You won’t see me in line in Washington, D.C. waiting to talk to a legislator to try to tell him what’s going on with my family,” he said. “I’d rather do this,” he said of his art.

Tags Donald Trump Manuel Oliver Parkland Florida school shooting

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