Actress Niecy Nash is the latest voice to grieve publicly for the 19 students and two adults killed in the heinous shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, May 24.
The “Claws” star shared that the tragedy triggered a painful memory for her as she reflected on the death of her brother who died in a shooting while on the campus of his school.
The day after the ordeal, which captured headlines far and wide, the 52-year-old took to Instagram and captioned the carousel post, “My God #ThisIsAmerica.”
Within the post, she wrote over a selfie, “I’m so sad. My brother was killed on his high school campus. It hits different cuz school is a place you should feel safe. I don’t wish it on anyone.”
This is not the first time she has shared about her brother’s untimely demise. In 1993, Michael Ensley, her 17-year-old brother, was shot at his high school in an alleged love triangle dispute.
The star referenced his murder in 2018, after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
She tweeted, “25 yrs ago today, my only brother, Michael Ensley was killed on his high school campus by kid with a gun. It’s 2018 and the death toll is rising while our spirits are still breaking. You don’t hear the pain. You hear the sound of NRA being exchanged. #NeverAgain”
In addition to saying the trauma “hits different,” and sharing her story about Ensley’s death, she also spotlighted videos of other voices like Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s viral postgame press conference remarks of outrage — words that zeroed in on the government’s inactivity, echoing the same sense of frustration of other public figures like Jamie Foxx and Matthew McConaughey.
Another video posted spoke about the United Kingdom’s strict gun laws and how there has not been a school shooting since 1996, when they enacted the legislation, regulating firearms for civilians.
The most heartfelt video featured one of the murdered children, a personal video of the young child assuring her dad it was OK that he missed her birthday.
The sweet voice said, “I wish you could come to my birthday, but you are going to be at work. So, I made this video.”
“When you get off work, I’ll be there for you,” she assured her daddy. “I love you, dad.”
She ended the video by saying, “You can send me a video, too. I’ll be happy … like I always am.”
The last infographic she posted was aimed at law officials and the voters who put them in.
Nash featured a post from Kalen Allen, another actor who powerfully wrote, “A government bold enough to force you to have a kid but too weak to ensure that they can at least get through recess alive.”
Over that post, she added an animated red megaphone to symbolize the message that needs to be loudly shouted.
Friends, family, and fans hopped in the comment section to lend their support, encouragement, and prayers.
Comedian and actress Kerri Kenney-Silver, apparently familiar with Nash’s story, said to her friend, “think of you and your family every damn time this happens.”
Sadly, others said, it has happened too much.
