Behind every movement there are movers. Emma González is a mover. After witnessing a shooting at her school, she helped organize a student-led protest that shook the nation. She stood, silent, for six minutes and twenty seconds in front of over a million people and spoke out against the gun violence that took the lives of seventeen of her classmates.

González has been attacked by many people who don’t share her beliefs on gun control laws. Representatives like Iowa’s Steve King have even gone so far to suggest that because she proudly wore the flag of her father’s country, Cuba, she was supporting a communist government. This, of course, was quickly shot down by González and her family.

It confuses me why she would be forced to even deal with such blatantly inaccurate accusations from politicians four times her age. The rumors and lies about her don’t stop there.

Over the last couple weeks, she has also had to deal with fake videos showing her ripping up the Constitution and a photo of her attacking the car of a Second Amendment supporter. Both of the videos are inaccurate, the latter being a 2007 picture of Britney Spears made to mock “Parkland trolls.” All she has done is use her constitutional right as an American citizen to speak her mind on the state of our nation. Her use of her right to freedom of speech has helped spark conversation on the much-needed change in gun control legislation.

This shouldn’t be the way González or any of her peers are treated. They aren’t “crisis actors”. Their classmates were massacred and they’re being bullied and lied about by people decades older than them. They shouldn’t attack her based on her heritage or her sexuality. They’re harassing someone who has done nothing but tell them how that they’re wrong. These people are so afraid they can’t even admit that they are wrong.

González doesn’t let her age, gender or sexuality define what she can or can’t do. She is a role model to all young girls, activists and the LGBT+ community. She is someone I personally look up to. She is strong, brave and isn’t afraid to fight for what she believes in.

Young women should not have to be subjected to the attacks that come with the manipulation of the media. She doesn’t let those attacks stop her from leading the fight against blood-money politicians that accept payments from the NRA. She has a powerful message to share and won’t stop until something changes.

González is stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen. She survived a massacre and was brave enough to speak out against it. She is constantly discredited by people who are afraid of how strong her voice is. She has proven that you don’t have to speak to be heard and that, even though people keep spreading lies about and call her names, she will still keep fighting for what she knows is right.