Well done, Zahra! I am proud of your bravery. I am proud of your skill and willingness in telling your own story. In doing so you are speaking up for many. It hurts me and should hurt your other readers to imagine the pain you’ve been going through. I hope your teachers and administrators will work hard to make school as safe a space for you as possible. An entire group of people should not be blamed for the evil actions of a few!!!!

And you are right to indict our culture. With the American devotion to guns, there is so much sickness at home we struggle to heal. And too many people believe it is their right to hurt and kill others. When will this end?

Lastly, please also know that many of us who believe Black Lives Matter spoke up after Charleston and decried it a case of domestic terrorism. It is horrible and maddening when our law enforcement agents and leaders make false distinctions. What Dylann Roof did is *terrorism* plain and simple!

Keep up the excellent work!

Stacy