[9] Subsequently, González continued to be an outspoken activist on gun control, making high-profile media appearances and helping organize the March for Our Lives.

Speaking at the demonstration, González led a moment of silence for the victims of the massacre; they stood on stage for six minutes, which they observed was the length of the shooting spree itself.

They attempted to exit through the hallway but were told to take cover and took refuge back in the auditorium, where they were held for two hours until police let students out.

"[7] On February 17, 2018, González gave an 11-minute speech in front of the Broward County Courthouse at a gun control rally in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

[5] The speech was in reaction to the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, three days previously, during which a gunman had killed 17 and severely injured many more.

", in response to gun laws, calling for advocacy and empowering young people to speak out against school shootings.

[4][12][19][20] According to The Washington Post, González's speech became emblematic of the "new strain of furious advocacy" that sprang up immediately after the shooting.

"I think I'm gonna interrupt you real quick and remind you that the question is actually, do you believe it should be harder to obtain these semi-automatic weapons and modifications to make them fully automatic, such as bump stocks?

"[23] Shortly after their viral speech and high-profile media appearances, González joined Twitter and acquired more than 1 million followers within a span of less than ten days.

[26] NBC News called them "one of the most visible student activists to emerge from the shooting..."[27] In a nationally televised interview on 60 Minutes, González described the idea of arming teachers in classrooms with guns as "stupid".

[28] In March 2018, González was on the cover of Time magazine along with fellow activists Jaclyn Corin, David Hogg, Cameron Kasky, and Alex Wind.

[31] González spoke for six minutes, the length of time of the Parkland shooting, and paid tribute to the victims by mentioning each one by name and giving examples of activities they would never again be able to do.

[35] In March 2018, the Florida Legislature passed a bill titled the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.

It raises the minimum age for buying firearms to 21, establishes waiting periods and background checks, provides a program for the arming of some teachers and the hiring of school police, bans bump stocks, and bars potentially violent or mentally unhealthy people arrested under certain laws from possessing guns.

The governor commented, "To the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, you made your voices heard.

[39][40] They have also faced derogatory comments made by internet trolls about their sexual orientation, short hair, and skin color.

Benjamin Kelly, an aide to Florida state Representative Shawn Harrison (R-63), was fired after making such accusations.

[50] Following their highly publicized speech at the March for Our Lives, pro-gun activists doctored fake photos and video showing González ripping up a copy of the United States Constitution, spreading them widely on internet forums and social media.

[52] Republican congressman Steve King attacked González for wearing a Cuban flag patch on their jacket during their speech, saying in a post on Facebook, "This is how you look when you claim Cuban heritage yet don't speak Spanish and ignore the fact that your ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, after removing all weapons from its citizens; hence their right to self defense.