Sandy Hook families denounce Megyn Kelly and NBC for Alex Jones interview

Story by Yahoo News
Written by Dylan Stableford

NBC is planning to air Megyn Kelly’s interview with conspiracy theorist and talk show host Alex Jones on Sunday night. And the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre are outraged, given Jones’ repeated suggestions that the mass shooting was staged.

Kelly confronted Jones about his Sandy Hook claims during the interview, but the victims’ families argued that NBC should not be giving the Infowars.com provocateur a platform.

Nelba Márquez-Greene — whose 6-year-old daughter, Ana Grace, was one of 20 children killed in the Dec. 14, 2012, school shooting in Newtown, Conn. — blasted Kelly in a series of tweets.

“Hey @megynkelly, let me know if you want to give his victims equal air time,” Márquez-Greene wrote. “Promoting this fool is bad news. Do not encourage his abuse.”

“It’s a miracle no #sandyhook parent has ended their life yet,” she continued. “The loss of a loved one and the constant [harassment] is too much.”

Márquez-Greene then posted a photo of her slain daughter, encouraging Kelly to “say her name” and “stare at this & tell me it’s worth” airing Jones’ interview.

Cristina Hassinger — whose mother, Sandy Hook Elementary Principal Dawn Hochsprung — was one of six adults killed in the massacre, deplored the decision to give Jones network airtime.

“This piece of actual garbage encourages people to call my mom’s death a hoax and harass other Sandy Hook families,” Hassinger tweeted. “Shame on you @megynkelly.”

Abbey Clements, a teacher who survived the shooting by hiding with her second-grade students in a closet, tweeted her disgust for Kelly and NBC.

NBC, which aired a preview of Kelly’s sit-down with Jones Sunday night, did not respond to a request for comment.

In the preview clip, Jones expounds on his beliefs that “9/11 was an inside job” and that the parents of Sandy Hook victims faked their children’s deaths — a conspiracy theory that has been spread by so-called Sandy Hook hoaxers.

“When you say parents faked their children’s death, people get very angry,” Kelly told Jones.

“I looked at all the angles of Newtown,” Jones said. “And I made my statements long before the media even picked up on it.”

The family of Victoria Leigh Soto, a teacher who was killed at Sandy Hook, posted an open letter to Kelly and NBC on Facebook.

“Alex and his followers have done nothing but make our lives a living hell for the last 4 1/2 years,” the family wrote. “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Kelly defended the decision to broadcast her discussion with Jones, who interviewed Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign and said that the president called to thank him days after the election.

“POTUS’s been on & praises @RealAlexJones’ show,” Kelly wrote on Twitter. “He’s giving Infowars a [White House] press credential. Many don’t know him; our job is 2 shine a light.

“You do not ‘shine a light’ on someone with such dangerous ideals and ideas,” Márquez-Greene replied. “Shine a light on the parents, siblings and their journeys.”

“Shine a light on victims of gun violence,” Vabner added. “Shine a light on their family members who have found the strength to go on AND fight for what’s right. Don’t shine a light on the man who denies their loved ones ever died.”