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On Thursday, the father of a Florida school shooting victim helped the White House celebrate Hanukkah and lauded President Donald Trump as a Fighter who has retaken Washington for the American people. Trump said the menorah was being lit in the East Room in memory of 18-year-old Meadow Pollack and all of the precious lives stolen from us during the current year, and we will pledge our resolve to confront hatred and violence in all of its evil forms. Meadow was among 17 people killed in a February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. A 17-year-old student has been charged in the Valentine’s Day massacre.

The father of Meadow, Andrew Pollack said that he has been fighting for his daughter and other students since the shooting. He was among a group of teen survivors and parents of murdered children who attended a White House discussion shortly after the shooting. Pollack said. “You are the greatest friend that the Jewish people have ever had in the White House, not only due to you recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and followed through on your promise to move the embassy to Jerusalem, but because you understand the spirit of Hanukkah, within your heart”.

Pollack also added, “We have to keep fighting because the safety of our children and the future of our country depend on whether we honor the true spirit of Hanukkah, by staying true to our traditions and to keep on winning”. Trump described sorrow and pain of Pollack as unimaginable and thanked him and his family for attending. Trump said, “We promise to hold the memory of beautiful Meadow and every Parkland victim in our hearts forever”. At an earlier Hanukkah reception Thursday, Trump recognized eight Holocaust survivors at an earlier Hanukkah reception Thursday. He said that they had endured “evil beyond description”.