Dad of Parkland Shooting Victim Booted From SOTU

After 'rough night,' Fred Guttenberg apologizes for shouting out
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 5, 2020 9:45 AM CST
Dad of Parkland Shooting Victim Booted From SOTU
Fred Guttenberg, father of slain Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Jamie Guttenberg, speaks during a news conference on Aug. 15, 2019, in Davie, Fla.   (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

President Trump spoke on gun rights at his Tuesday State of the Union address, vowing to "always protect your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms." At least one person in the crowd didn't appreciate his remarks and very vocally made that known: That would be Fred Guttenberg, the father of 14-year-old Parkland shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg. Guttenberg was in attendance at the speech as the guest of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, per USA Today, and shouted something as the president spoke, though it's not clear exactly what. He was promptly booted from the event. CBS Miami has video of Guttenberg being escorted out of the room by a man ABC News reports was a plainclothes police officer.

The #ImWithFred hashtag soon started trending, with celebrities, politicians, activists, and others standing up for Guttenberg. "Thank you for your advocacy," California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted. "I know Jaime would be proud." Still, Guttenberg offered his apologies after what he called "a rough night." "I disrupted the State Of The Union and was detained because I let my emotions get the best of me," he tweeted shortly after midnight. "I simply want to be able to deal with the reality of gun violence and not have to listen to the lies about the 2A as happened tonight." He continued: "That said, I should not have yelled out. I am thankful for the overwhelming support that I am receiving. However, I do owe my family and friends an apology. I have tried to conduct myself with dignity throughout this process and I will do better as I pursue gun safety." (More Fred Guttenberg stories.)

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