Ten years after the Sandy Hook massacre, Robbie Parker reflects on the devastating impact of losing his daughter Emilie and the relentless harassment he faced from right-wing conspiracy theorists.
Robbie Parker with his daughter Emilie, who was killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in December 2012.Robbie Parker with his daughter Emilie, who was killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school in December 2012.Robbie Parker and his family were devastated by the death of their beloved, inquisitive Emilie. Then rightwing provocateurs claimed he was a ‘crisis actor’ and the threats beganhen the blow came, it was absurd in its clumsiness.
The community was preparing for Christmas on 14 December. Emilie had found what she called “the perfect box” to collect toys to donate to other kids. Parker woke early and saw that Emilie was already up; she greeted him in Portuguese, which she had been learning from him . Then Alissa asked: “What about the children that went to the hospital? What is their status?” Parker recalls that the governor was like a deer in the headlights as he answered: “They have expired.”
Parker’s voice wobbles as he continues: “It’s hard to describe what it was like getting home and walking into the house. My brother came out when he saw the car pull up and, just look on my face, he knew – we hadn’t said anything and so he came up and gave us a hug. Then you walked in this house that just that morning had so much excitement and love and warmth and it felt as cold and dark as a cave.
Parker planned to meet one reporter at the church. But when he arrived, there were dozens of cameras, reporters and news crews. Suddenly, less than 24 hours after his daughter’s death, he found himself giving a press conference on live television. Trying to calm himself, he recalls, he let out a weird half-laugh and smile towards some family members supporting him.
“When you juxtapose that, you have parents who aren’t even sure if they’re grieving yet – they’re not even aware if their kid’s dead – and you have somebody already spouting off to millions of people that it’s not real and it’s not happening. It’s hard to get anybody, including myself, to wrap your mind around just how awful and evil that is.”
“You should have those moments right after your loved one dies to remember and cherish them because that’s as close as you’re going to be to them for ever. It’s a very sacred time and that got stolen from us.”
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My six-year-old daughter was shot at Sandy Hook – and I faced a torrent of abuseRobbie Parker and his family were devastated by the death of their beloved, inquisitive Emilie. Then rightwing provocateurs claimed he was a ‘crisis actor’ and the threats began
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