Dad of Parkland Shooting Victim Makes Murals to Honor His Son and Other Victims

He plans to paint 17 murals, one for each of the victims.

A Florida father whose son was killed in the Parkland High School massacre has taken to creating murals to honor his son's memory.

Manuel Oliver, whose 17-year-old son Joaquin Oliver, was killed when a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, is now touring the country to create the murals.

“We demand 2 stop the BS,” a mural in Downtown Los Angeles read. The mural shows three students, Joaquin in the middle, with targets on them. Joaquin is holding his phone, just as he was the last time his father dropped him off at a school on the day of the shooting.

Another mural in Miami shows a picture of Joaquin alongside the words, “We demand a change.”

There is also a mural in New York City.

"Joaquin was not only my son but also my best friend," Oliver said. "Joaquin is still out there with a loud voice fighting for his rights. He was a very loud kid so he is demanding me to show what he is demanding."

Oliver says he will do 17 murals to honor the 17 people killed in the mass shooting.

Onlookers had tears in their eyes as Oliver passionately painted the Los Angeles mural over the weekend.

"It hits on many levels — as a mother, a teacher," said Yvette Davie, a local high school educator.

RELATED STORIES

Latest News