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Father Of Student Killed In Parkland Shooting Creates Springfield, Mass., Mural

The father of one of the students killed in Parkland, Florida in February was in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Friday, making his opinions known through art.

Manuel Oliver is the father of Joaquin Oliver. He's been painting murals in cities across the United States.

He said he chose Springfield because it's the home of gun maker Smith & Wesson. The company manufactured the assault-style rifle used to kill his son.

The Springfield mural features a man holding a large gun and and says, "we demand" then "no hunting" across an image of his son's face.

Oliver said his artwork is designed to reinforce the message sent by the March for Our Lives youth organizers.

"We are supporting the kids, number one, we are demanding changes, number two, and we don't want any other parent or any other family to go through the pain that this means for us," he said. 

Oliver said he plans additional murals in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Orlando.

Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.
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