Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
73,454 255
feed
Chapters Chapter Activities
Enter Virginia's Youth Essay Contest! Deadline Nov. 14, 2010

Virginia Million Mom March Chapters logo
In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Milion Mom March, the Virginia Million Mom March Chapters are sponsoring an essay contest open to all Virginia youth in grades K-12.

To enter, students must compose an original essay on this topic: "How to Reduce Gun Violence in the United States"

Three winners will be selected, one from each of the following divisions: Elementary School (Grades K-5); Middle School (Grades 6-8); and High School (Grades 9-12).

Entrants may take their own approach to this essay. For some suggestions to get started, consider some of these issues when researching the topic:

  • Local, state and federal gun laws. How effective are they? Do we need tougher laws? What type of laws could we have constitutionally?
  • The influence of the gun lobby and public safety organizations. Do they help or hinder efforts to curb gun violence?
  • Comparisons between the United States and other countries with tougher gun laws. What do the statistics tell us?
  • How easy is it to buy a gun in Virginia or elsewhere in the United States? Does this impact the level of gun violence we see?
  • What types of firearms are legal in the United States, and does this impace gun violence?
  • What is going on culturally in the United States that may be contributing to gun violence? Is there anything that can be done about it?

CONTEST RULES:

  • You must be a resident of Virginia and 18 years of age or younger to enter.
  • Each entry must include your full name, age, grade level at date of submission, name of the school you attend, name of a parent or guardian, mailing address including city and zip code, and email address. Phone number is optional. All winners will be notified in writing. Entries will not be returned.
  • All entries must be the original work of the entrant.
  • Essays must be written in English.
  • Entries can be no more than 500 words for the Elementary Division (K-5); no more than 1,500 words for the Middle School Division (6-8); and no more than 3,000 words for the High School Division (9-12).
  • All references must be cited. Citations do no count towards word limit.
  • Entries must be submitted via email by November 14, 2010 at mmmvaessaycontest@gmail.com
  • By entering the contest, you agree to have your essay posted, if selected, on the Brady Campaign/Millin Mom march Chapter websites. (Only your first name, age, and your city will be posted.)
  • There is no limit to the number of original essays you may submit.

PRIZES:
Elementary School Division (Grades K-5)
First place: $100
Second place: $50
Third place: $25

Middle School Division (Grades 6-8)
First place: $150
Second place: $75
Third place: $50

High School Division (Grades 9-12)
First place: $200
Second place: $100
Third place: $75

Best of luck to all students!

» Click here to submit your entry

New York City Million Mom March Chapter"Tsunami of Peace Walk, Run & Rally Against Violence"
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
New York City

Join hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, former New York Giant
Michael Strahan, our New York City/Bronx Million Mom March Chapter, and others this Wednesday, August 25, for the "Tsunami of Peace Ride, Walk & Rally Against Violence" in New York City.

Rappers Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Fat Joe, Maino, and Salt will also participate in the rally, which was organized as a response to
the rise in gun violence throughout New York this summer.

As a call to action, funeral processions will be staged in all five of New York's boroughs. Dozens of hearses will depart from each borough and meet at thefoot of the Brooklyn Bridge, where activists will walk into Manhattan to peacefully rally at City Hall Park.

DATE:
Wednesday, August 25, 2010

EVENTS:
10:00 a.m. - Symbolic Funeral Processions
in each of the five boroughs*

12:00 noon - Peace Walk and Ride
starts in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Bridge

1:00 p.m. - Peace Rally
at City Hall Park (Chambers St & Center St, Manhattan)

*Symbolic funeral processions will depart from
Brooklyn: Thomas Boyland Ave & Atlantic Ave
Bronx: 156th St & Morris Ave
Harlem: 12th Ave & 125th St
Queens: Guy R. Brewer Blvd & Baisley Blvd
Staten Island: Jersey St & Richmond St

10th Anniversary of Million Mom March Honored at Gala!

The 10 year anniversary of the Million Mom March was celebrated at the Brady Center's Gala at the National Museum for Women in the Arts on May 18, 2010.  Legendary journalist Helen Thomas was also honored at this very special event.

It was an inspirational evening where Jim and Sarah Brady, along with other gun violence victims, activists and donors came together to celebrate the Brady Center and our amazing Million Mom March and Brady Campaign volunteers.

  
Million Mom March founder, Donna Dees-Thomases, accepts a plaque on behalf of our Million Mom March Chapter activists.
Donna Dees-Thomases celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Million Mom March with Paul Helmke. Dana Sanchez-Quist, Ladd Everitt, Anne and Andy Goddard and Carole Stiller. Helen Thomas accepts the Sarah Brady Visionary Award.
Donna Dees-Thomases celebrates the
10th Anniversary of the Million Mom March with Brady President Paul Helmke.
 Florida Million Mom March Chapters' President Dana Sanchez-Quist, Ladd Everitt, Anne and Richmond Million Mom March Chapter President Andy Goddard, and New Jersey Million Mom March Chapters' President Carole Stiller. Helen Thomas accepts the Sarah Brady Visionary Award.
     

Chapters Nationwide Urging Starbucks to Prohibit Guns


On April 18 -- two days after the third anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy, and two days before the 11th anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings -- our Greater Denver Million Mom Chapter demonstrated outside of Starbucks in downtown Denver.  Activists, including family members of victims of both Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings, called on Starbucks to reverse their decision to allow radical "open carry" advocates to meet inside their stores wearing loaded firearms.

Similarly, on April 16, both families of Virginia Tech victims and concerned citizens protested a Starbucks store in Blacksburg, Virginia, home of Virginia Tech University.

On March 3, our Clark County/Vancouver Million Mom March Chapter and allies at Washington CeaseFire held a press conference near the flagship Starbucks store in downtown Seattle, and delivered tens of thousands of signed petitions Starbucks Corporate Headquarters, demanding they reconsider their reckless policy on guns in their shops.

Concerned moms and families also gathered outside of their local Starbucks in Alexandria, Virginia, on March 6, to protest the chain's dangerous policy on guns.

Join with our Chapters and concerned citizens nationwide, and demand that your local Starbucks bar the open carrying of guns in their store!

» Click here to sign the petition to Starbucks
» Click here to print flyers to take to your local Starbucks
» Click here to print a sign to take to your local Starbucks
» Click here for more information on open carry

  

 

Starbucks Guns and Coffee?

Join with Chapters and concerned citizens to demand that Starbucks stand up for the safety of its customers and bar guns in its shops!