Quick Facts
Biography
Naomi Wadler (born 2007) is an American student and activist attending Maret School in Washington, DC. She has held speeches advocating for victims of gun violence in the United States, especially black female victims, most notably at the anti-gun protest March for Our Lives.
Personal life
Wadler was adopted by Julie Wadler from an Ethiopian orphanage in 2007. Wadler's mother also adopted another daughter in 2009.
Wadler's African American father is a recreational hunter.
Wadler told Elle in April 2018 that she had been the victim of racism at her school because of her Jewish and Ethiopian heritages.
Political activism
On March 14, 2018, Wadler helped organize a walkout of 60 fellow classmates at George Mason Elementary School.
On March 24, Wadler spoke to a crowd of thousands at the anti-gun protest March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. She was the youngest speaker at the rally.She talked about why she pushed for the walkout and said that there's a disproportionate number of black female victims of gun violence in the United States. Wadler had the protest last 18 minutes instead of 17 minutes like those at other schools were doing for the 17 victims of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The extra minute was in honor of a black girl who was shot dead at her high school in Alabama on March 7. Wadler was initially worried that discussing black female victims would be considered "off topic", but felt comfortable after finding out about "other students from all over would speak from their experiences". The speech became viral, trending worldwide on Twitter, and was praised by black actresses.
Wadler subsequently spoke at the Women in the World Annual Summit and the Teen Vogue summit. Wadler received a standing ovation for her speech at the Tribeca Film Festival, where she received the Disruptive Innovation Award. Wadler mentioned a black woman who was killed in the Nashville Waffle House shooting on April 22, 2018, along with three black men. Wadler asserted that the perpetrator had been offered a bail, which was revoked after additional criminal charges, because he was white. Wadler was also a guest at The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She was named one of Teen Vogue's "21 Under 21" and shared a New York Magazine cover with fellow-Jewish star Barbara Streisand.
