Family of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victim shares story with local high schoolers
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Friday marks five years since 11 people were killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.
On Monday, the family of Rose Mallinger met with students at South Fayette High School, including her daughter who survived the attack, Andrea Wedner.
The conversations in the room might make you think "what was I doing at this age?" The group of high schoolers make it a point to talk about the tough things but create a safe space.
"I do believe that the young people are obviously going to be the future so what we do now really matters and we can make an impact," said Pranamya Rangarhau, a South Fayette High School junior.
"Because when you're young that's when you get the most opportunities for these sorts of social conversations and ways to impact change because in high school you can start clubs that can spread into different schools and organizations," said junior Bedirhan Bircan.
Take a quick look around the circle and you'd see students of all different backgrounds with one goal: to listen and learn from the family of Rose Mallinger, one of the 11 people killed in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting five years ago.
"My grandmother was so strong in who she was and so embodying that and talking to other people, it's just so encouraging to know that she's looking down on us and giving us all the strength to continue doing this," said Amy Mallinger, Rose's granddaughter.
The students form a group called SHOUT, which stands for "Social Handprints Overcoming Unjust Treatment."
Samihah Saleem, a junior, said seeing Andrea Wedner in the room felt surreal, adding people can often feel a barrier between themselves and the hate in the world.
"It kind of made the entire issue real to me," said Saleem. "This could have easily been a masjid, this could have easily been a church, this could have easily been my masjid, this could have been my mosque. These things could have happened to me."