Buses Representing Kids Killed By Gun Violence Visit Ted Cruz

HOUSTON, TX — A mile-long procession of school buses filled with shoes, trophies and other belongings of children killed in school shootings traveled by the Texas home and offices of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday.

The convoy consisted of 52 buses — 4,368 empty seats representing the children who would have sat there but were instead killed by gun violence, according to organizers. The lead bus — dubbed the NRA Children's Museum — carried a collection of photos, videos, audio recordings and personal memories of several children who lost their lives in school shootings.

The project is the latest by Manuel Oliver, founder of Change the Ref and father of Joaquin Oliver, who was killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

Since Joaquin's death, Oliver has become an advocate for gun control and often channels his efforts through public art and demonstrations. Earlier this week, Oliver was escorted from the White House after he interrupted President Joe Biden during a speech. Last year, the president of the NRA was tricked into speaking at a fake commencement ceremony. Before him were 3,000 empty chairs, each symbolizing a student killed by gun violence.

Firearms recently became the number one cause of death for children in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle deaths and those caused by other injuries.

"Because of politicians like Sen. Ted Cruz and the NRA, who enable assault rifles to be the best-selling gun on America's streets, the child death toll this year has hit an all-time high," the NRA Children's Museum said in a statement. "Despite this tragic theme, Senators and House members representing Texas have received more than $14 million in contributions from gun rights interests over their careers."

According to Oliver, the purpose of the school bus project and the NRA Children's Museum — a name Oliver hopes will draw a pro-gun audience — is to "show American voters the toll these politicians have taken on our children's lives."

Organizers also want to put pressure on politicians to renounce funding from the NRA and other gun lobbyist groups.

“And this is only the beginning," Oliver said in a statement. "We will not stop with Sen. Ted Cruz. To every politician who has stood by, taken NRA money, and refused to listen to the people they represent: the museum is on the way to honor you next.”

While at Cruz's home, Oliver left the senator a letter penned by his son years before his death. The letter, written when Joaquin was 12, asked for better background checks on gun sales.

"The hope is that this gift will spark a realization and understanding that receiving political donations from the NRA and other gun lobbyists isn’t worth an innocent child’s life," the NRA Children's Museum said in a statement.

Learn more about the NRA Children's Museum.