Cornell University student Edgar Jared Vilchez will share his experience with gun violence at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on August 22. Vilchez, a government major at Cornell University, will speak about the traumatic 2022 incident when a classmate was shot outside his Chicago high school. This event sparked his advocacy against gun violence.
Vilchez, who is also interning at the DNC, will address the convention as part of a segment focused on the impact of gun violence in the U.S. His speech is scheduled to air at 9:45 p.m., just before Vice President Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
After the shooting, Vilchez became involved with Project Unloaded, a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to prevent gun violence, particularly among youth. His connection to Chicago made him a fitting choice to speak at the DNC, which is being held in the city.
“This stuff is happening to thousands of people. Every week, every month there’s a school shooting,” Vilchez said. “I’m here to advocate for the change that’s needed in this country so stories like mine don’t occur again.”
At Cornell, Vilchez has pursued a minor in public policy and has been inspired by courses like “Inside Elections,” taught by former Congressman Steve Israel. He credits his education at Cornell with preparing him to articulate his ideas and advocate for change.
Vilchez will be one of three speakers sharing their stories before Georgia U.S. House Representative Lucy McBath and others address the audience. He emphasizes the importance of youth voices in the fight against gun violence and plans to use his brief time on stage to convey a message of hope and the power of personal narratives.