SEATTLE — Manuel Oliver performs his art in front of people. He wants to make sure they remember every detail. Manuel and his wife Patricia say this is how they get people’s attention.
“Sadly, I am Joaquin’s mom. We lost our son in the Parkland shooting,” said Patricia Oliver.
On Sunday, the Olivers were at Seattle's Sam Smith Park at the Wear Orange Rally. They were invited to paint an image to spark a conversation about gun violence.
“This is our mission that we believe we have since we lost Joaquin. We don’t want anyone to be suffering what we’re suffering today,” said Patricia Oliver.
She described her son as a ‘beautiful soul,’ and said he was a kid who was friendly and smart.
“Joaquin was always involved in what was going on around the country,” said Oliver.
This is the couple’s 26th mural. They always include an image of their son and an image of a city’s connection to gun violence.
“We used an image of Kurt Cobain because we lost him to gun violence. Suicide,” said Oliver.
“I was fighting back tears the entire time,” said Seattle resident Zach Elmore.
Elmore said he can relate to the Olivers because he remembers the fear he felt before learning his sister would survive the 2017 mass shooting at a concert in Las Vegas.
“You can’t decide if and when you’re going to be impacted and once you are, it’s going to change your life forever,” said Elmore.
Elmore said the feeling is hard to describe and says the Olivers image is a powerful way to help people understand.
“Every time that we bring a message it’s a message about awareness, unity and compassion. With that attitude, we’re going to find the way to kill, really kill in a good way, this epidemic,” said Oliver.
