Stevie Nicks has it He wrote an emotional essay on the first anniversary of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead. In the message she posted on Instagram using the hashtag #UvaldeStrong, she reflected on her youth in Texas—hundreds of miles away in El Paso—and how fortunate she was to have the opportunities that came her way, taking a ballet class as a third grader put her on the path to becoming a Artist.
“I’ve grown up to be Stevie Nicks,” she wrote. “As we reflect on Uvaldi’s one-year anniversary, and the countless shootings that have happened since that fateful day, I can’t help but ask myself, What if I had been shot and killed by a gunman while in my third-grade ballet class? Except to think about all those lost futures…”
“And so, in conclusion, my arm goes around each of those little hearts like a ring of angels that will always be missing,” she continued. “I will never be able to let this go…” The singer-songwriter promised to keep the memory of what happened in Uvalde alive.
On May 24, 2022, a gunman entered Rob Elementary School and carried out a so-called Texas Tribune It was the deadliest school shooting in Texas history. Nineteen children and two teachers died that day. Police, who were afraid of the automatic rifle, waited more than an hour before stopping the shooter, who also died that day.
in a new way Rolling Stone Parents and family members of the victim speak of steadfastness in their hopes of inspiring meaningful legislation that can prevent future tragedies. Their hope is to pass a bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle in Texas from 18 to 21.
“That day changed my whole life and my whole way of thinking, my behavior and my behavior,” said Berlinda Arreola, the 10-year-old grandmother of the victim, Amiri Jo Garza. “I’m walking somewhere I’ve never been. I’m looking forward to seeing where the exits are. I go to a parade and look through the buildings, making sure nobody’s there… You don’t feel safe anymore because your confidence is lost.”
Read Stevie Nicks’ full statement:
UVALDE’S LOST FUTURE
My family moved to El Paso, Texas when I was in third grade. I started a new school, and ballet was one of the lessons they offered. Only a week later I came home and told my mother, “I’m going to be a prima ballerina.”
She said, “I believe you.”
I said, “I know.” And I danced away. That was the beginning. The first page of the greatest love story of my life is my love for dance and music.
Another year, another page, and I hear my grandfather in the corridor. He showed up with a truck load of 45 and we sat on the floor in my room listening to them all and singing along. He said, “You’re a natural harmony singer, Stephanie. This is a very special thing you can do.”
I ran to my mom and said, “I’m going to be a country singer and my grandfather thinks I can.”
And my mom said, “What about ballet?”
I told her, “I’ll bring her with me. I’ll dance on stage.”
She said, “I believe you.” And I smiled and danced away.
Fifth grade brought car radios playing Cheryl and Martha, Vandella and the Crystals, Chantelle and Shangri-Las. The harmony sang at the top of my lungs in the backseat of my dad’s car. My dreams have never changed. They were growing faster than I was. I couldn’t contain it. I sang to make room for my heartbeat. I danced to keep up with the spinning of my mind.
I wore my first top hat on stage at a talent show in sixth grade with a black skirt and jacket and black capisio shoes. (Sounds familiar) With a change of brush and ball, I danced to Buddy Holly’s Song Every Day.
Then my family moved to California and by the time I was 15, my love for music was unbreakable. My parents bought me a Joya guitar and after I took a month of guitar lessons and learned five chords I finally wrote my first song. I played it to my mom and dad and told them I was going to be a singer-songwriter. They said, “We believe you, we’ve always done that, but first you have to go to college.” And I did, for almost 5 years. I met a boy and we eventually started making music together. One day we got a call from a band and we went to a dinner that changed our lives.
When I look back, it all happened so quickly. I was only 10 years old in El Paso, Texas, deciding what I was going to do for the rest of my life. I knew my fate a few pages ago. I’m still writing on this guitar. I still feel like dancing in every move. I’ve grown up and joined Fleetwood Mac. I’ve been writing music for the world for 50 years, and I hope you’ve touched people’s hearts.
I’ve grown up to be Stevie Nicks.
As we reflect on Uvaldi’s one-year anniversary, and the countless shootings that have occurred since that fateful day, I can’t help but ask myself, What if I had been shot and killed by a man with a gun while I was around. Third grade ballet class? And I couldn’t help but think of all those lost futures…
And so, in closing, my arms circle around each of those little hearts like a ring of angels that will always be missing. I won’t be able to let this pass…
If anything, I will do everything I can to keep this story alive.
