Nex, who identified as nonbinary and used they/them pronouns, had been the target of bullying for over a year due to their gender identity.
According to reports, Nex and a friend were assaulted by a group of girls after standing up for themselves. Nex was taken to the hospital but released the same day. Less than 24 hours later, Nex collapsed at home and was pronounced dead. Their death has been officially ruled a suicide.
This case reverberated across the country. But for many of us, it was all too familiar.
Every child who was ignored by administrators. Every teen who was mocked for who they are and met with cruelty instead of compassion. It’s also a story of how far-reaching the consequences are when schools prioritize silence over safety.
When I created The Echo Movement, I wasn’t just thinking about my own experience—I was thinking about every person like Nex. I was thinking about what it means to be systematically ignored, undermined, or ridiculed by the people and institutions that are supposed to protect you. In my case, it was being harassed by people I loved and trusted. It was watching adults stand by while my abusers laughed. For Nex, it was living in a school system that allowed bullying to escalate until there was no way back.
The Echo Movement exists to interrupt that cycle. To build something better. To say: You are seen. You are worthy. You are not overreacting. You deserve support, not shame.
We’re creating tools, technology, and trauma-informed resources for people who need help—before it’s too late. Nex should still be here. So should Aubreigh. So should Preston. So should Sammy.
This isn’t about one identity or one school or one state.
We’re building the Echo Movement with the same bold energy you see in the world’s most forward-thinking platforms.
On September 10, 2025, America saw two school shootings in one day — one at Utah Valley University and another at Evergreen High School in Colorado. As Colorado relives the trauma of Columbine nearly three decades later, we must confront how bullying, trauma, and silence fuel cycles of violence that continue to devastate our schools.
On August 27, 2025, tragedy struck Minneapolis when a shooter opened fire during a school Mass at the Church of the Annunciation. Two children were killed, 18 others were injured, and countless lives were shattered. This was the 44th school shooting in the U.S. in 2025—a devastating reminder that our children are growing up in a world where violence echoes through classrooms, churches, and communities.
On June 4, 2024, 15-year-old Brandon Hatchell, a freshman at Darlington High School in South Carolina, was found dead in his home. His death has been ruled a suicide, and his family is now taking legal action against the Darlington County School District, alleging that ongoing bullying and negligence by school officials contributed directly to his death. The lawsuit claims that repeated reports of harassment were ignored, leaving Brandon feeling hopeless and unprotected.