MSU Students Mobilize for Change as Gov. Walz Praises Their Activism After Campus Shooting
Photo courtesy of the Walz-Flanagan
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joined Michigan State University (MSU) students in East Lansing on Friday to rally support for the upcoming election and emphasize the importance of civic engagement. The event came in the wake of a deadly campus shooting last year that left three students dead and five others injured, spurring a wave of activism among students.
Walz and congressional candidate Curtis Hertel praised the students for their swift response to the February 13, 2023, shooting, where they marched, advocated for change, and helped push forward new gun safety legislation. Hertel, an MSU alumnus, reflected on the fear and pain he experienced as both a graduate and a parent of a student on campus that night. He recalled how his son narrowly avoided danger, but also how the tragedy mobilized the campus community.
“Students stood up, students marched … and we changed the laws to protect people so that what happened at MSU never happens to any kid again,” he said. Following the shooting, MSU students advocated for new legislation, leading to the implementation of universal background checks, safe firearm storage laws, and extreme risk protection orders in Michigan.
As the students gathered at the event, surrounded by “Spartans for Harris Walz” signs, Walz expressed his gratitude for their involvement in the political process. “When young people get involved, it reinforces that the future can be brighter and that our democracy is strong,” he said.
Walz took the opportunity to commend Vice President Kamala Harris for her composure during the recent presidential debate, contrasting her leadership with Donald Trump’s. He described Trump’s demeanor as “an angry man yelling at people to get off his yard,” while praising Harris for showing “poise, dignity, and an understanding that she works for you.”
MSU Democrats President Liam Richichi echoed the importance of the students’ activism. “We know this is something we will never get over, and that’s why we’re fighting so hard to win this election,” he said, referring to the three students lost in the 2023 shooting.
Walz closed by urging students to remain engaged, noting Michigan’s key role in the upcoming election. He emphasized that Midwesterners’ kindness should not be mistaken for weakness and that this shared value is what unites voters in states like Michigan and Minnesota.
