What a powerful moment from the White House press room.
A few weeks back, 21 innocent lives were taken in the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24th.
And actor Matthew McConaughey spent some time in Washington D.C. today to talk about his personal ties to the town of Uvalde, Texas, where he grew up, and how he wants to see things change in the wake of this awful tragedy.
The 52-year-old took the podium at an emotional White House press briefing earlier to discuss some of his ideas on gun reform, in addition to penning a column in the Austin American-Statesman yesterday about his proposed solutions and previously posting a “call to action” on his Instagram immediately after the shooting.
And as he spoke, he took time to talk about the victims and heartbreak experienced by their parents in families as they continue to grieve the loss of their young children.
One story in particular, about 10-year-old Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, was almost too much to get through, as he struggled to talk about her green Converse she wore all the time and how she drew a little heart on the right toe because she loved nature so much.
Matthew’s wife, Camila, held up the shoes for reporters as he spoke:
“Maite wore green high to Converse, with a heart she had hand-drawn on the right toe, because they represented her love of nature.
Camila’s got these shoes, can you show these, please? Wore these everyday. Green Converse with a heart on the right toe.”
He got visibly and understandably upset as he talked about Maite, choking up as he pounded the podium and continued:
“These are the same green Converse on her feet, that turned out to be the only clear evidence that could identify her after the shooting.
How about that?”
Hearing that story just rips your heart out and makes you sick to your stomach, to say the very least, and I think every single American, regardless of political party, feels exactly the same way about this horrific tragedy in that it should never happen again:
Matthew McConaughey chokes up and slams the White House podium while telling the story of 10-year-old Uvalde shooting victim Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, who could only be identified by her favorite green Converse after the shooting. pic.twitter.com/7Au4f2yTOT
— The Recount (@therecount) June 7, 2022
Our continued thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and community of Uvalde dealing with the wake of this sadness and grief from such a senseless act.
Matthew also told reporters that he had met with several different congressman and senators on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle to discuss possible reform policies while in D.C., including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
He and his wife, Camila, have been on the ground in Uvalde, helping to provide support and raise fund through his Just Keep Livin’ Foundation.
You can watch his entire press conference here:
