Late-night comedian Jimmy Fallon was the surprise commencement speaker Sunday at the ceremony for graduating seniors of the Parkland, Fla., high school where a shooter killed 17 people in February.
“The Tonight Show” host posted a video of himself on Twitter addressing the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High class of 2018 and receiving a round of applause at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.
Congratulations Marjory Stoneman Douglas Class of 2018! You are not just the future – you are the present. Keep changing the world. Keep making us proud. #MSDStrong #YouAreThePresent pic.twitter.com/czvZwezKSt
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) June 3, 2018
During his speech, video of which was shared on social media by multiple users, Fallon cracked jokes and thanked the students for becoming leaders in anti-gun violence activism.
“When something feels hard, remember that it gets better,” Fallon said. “Choose to move forward. Don’t let anything stop you.”
“I met many of you earlier this year at the March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., It was an amazing day,” he added, referring to a demonstration in March. “Thank you for your courage and your bravery.”
Four seniors slain during the February shooting — Nicholas Dworet, Joaquin Oliver, Meadow Pollack, and Carmen Schentrup — were recognized at the event, along with two other students in the class — Kaitlyn Critelli and Ethan Lalinde — who died in 2016, according to the Miami Herald.
The parents of Joaquin Oliver, one of the students slain in the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in February, walk on stage during graduation to accept his diploma.
Four posthumous diplomas were handed out at the ceremony. https://t.co/TW6fykfwrg pic.twitter.com/gd86yEKPtN
— ABC News (@ABC) June 3, 2018
A moment of silence was also held for the 17 people killed in the February shooting.
Before the event, graduating students decorated their mortarboards, some of which recognized the victims of the shootings and others, as David Hogg shared on Twitter, drew attention to politics and gun reform.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victim Meadow Pollack’s best friend Carly Ogozaly sent CNN this photo of her mortar board at graduation today commemorating the life of her best friend. pic.twitter.com/UFoReVzxIE
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 3, 2018
Thanks for the tassel @marcorubio pic.twitter.com/xZPFBhgFOm
— David Hogg (@davidhogg111) June 3, 2018
Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who was a student at Stoneman Douglas, has been charged with the shooting on Feb. 14.
According to the Associated Press, his attorneys have he plans to plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without parole; meanwhile prosecutors want the death penalty.
