US senator criticises Parkland shooting survivor over 'Cuban heritage'

A Republican senator in the US has criticised Parkland shooting survivor Emma Gonzalez, claiming she wrongfully claims Cuban heritage.

Emma Gonzalez, a survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School closes her eyes and cries as she stands silently at the podium. Source: AAP

Iowa Senator Steve King's official Facebook profile posted a meme criticising Parkland student Emma Gonzalez and her Cuban heritage. 

Next to a photo of Ms Gonzalez during her powerful March for Our Lives speech at the weekend, the caption read: 

"This is how you look when you claim Cuban heritage yet don't speak Spanish and ignore the fact that your ancestors fled the island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, removing all weapons from its citizens; hence their right to self defense."

A Cuban flag was one of many patches on the 17-year-old's jacket.

The meme attracted outrage from some in the comments section, but the person managing the page defended it.

"Pointing out the irony of someone wearing the flag of a communist country while simultaneously calling for gun control isn't 'picking' on anyone. It's calling attention to the truth, but we understand that lefties find that offensive."

The 17-year-old delivered one of the most moving moments at the March for our Lives standing on stage in silence for six minutes and 20 seconds - the time it took for the gunman to kill 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month.

Students targeted by pro-guns lobby

The meme posted by King's team is one of many being spread by the far right and pro-guns lobby groups as the student-led gun reform campaign gains more traction. 

One example of their tactics includes the doctoring of graphics to make it appear the group of students are ripping up a copy of the US constitution.

Left: The doctored image of Emma Gonzalez ripping up the Constitution and right, the original image of the activist ripping up a shooting target poster. Source: Twitter

Steve King's page is dominated by posts attacking the movement and attempting to make fun of the tens of thousands at the March for our Lives on Saturday.

Mr King is also known for his anti-immigration comments. 

Last year, he praised Dutch nationalist politician Geert Wilders, tweeting that Wilders "understands that culture and demographics are our destiny. We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies".