Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Leonard 'Lenny' Pozner (born January 1, 1967) is an American activist best known as the father of Noah Pozner, a six-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut. The massacre, carried out by Adam Lanza, claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. In the aftermath, Pozner faced relentless harassment from conspiracy theorists who falsely claimed the event was a hoax, leading him to relocate his family multiple times for safety, eventually settling in Florida. His personal tragedy fueled a commitment to combating online misinformation and protecting victims' families from further trauma. In response to the abuse, Pozner founded the HONR Network (an acronym for 'Honoring the Victims and Remembering the Tragedy') in 2013, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors and families of mass violence who endure hate speech, defamation, and harassment on the internet. Through HONR, Pozner has pursued legal actions against prominent conspiracy promoters, including successful lawsuits against Alex Jones and his Infowars platform for defamation, resulting in significant court-ordered damages. These efforts have included takedown requests under laws like Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and advocacy for stronger online protections. Pozner's work has been praised for raising awareness about the real-world harms of conspiracy theories but has also drawn criticism from free speech advocates who argue his actions infringe on expression rights. Beyond his activism, Pozner maintains a low public profile regarding his pre-tragedy life, though he has shared that he previously worked in professional services. His ongoing battle against denialism has made him a key figure in discussions on gun violence, media literacy, and digital ethics, influencing policy and public discourse in the United States.