New York Million Mom March Chapters Enthusiastically Endorse Mayor Bloomberg For Re-Election

Oct 13, 2009

New York, NY - The New York Million Mom March chapters today enthusiastically endorsed Mayor Mike Bloomberg in his bid for re-election. The Chapters’ leaders said while they believe Comptroller Bill Thompson would support efforts to make New York City a safer place, Mayor Bloomberg has shown outstanding leadership at the national level in keeping illegal guns out of the hands of kids and criminals.

“Mayor Bloomberg understands that getting illegal guns off our streets is essential for the safety of New Yorkers, and he is actively supporting sensible policies to do this,” said Edie Smith, Co-President of the New York Million Mom March Chapters. “Our endorsement today is in the name of all of the New Yorkers senselessly killed by gunfire.”

Those victims in New York City include recent ones like Aisha Santiago, the single mother from the Bronx whose last act was to push her nine-year-old son out of harms way, and Kevin Miller, a 13-year-old innocent bystander from Queens shot in the head because a 16-year-old got his hands on a gun and opened fire in a street dispute. 

“At a time when there are so few elected officials speaking out about America's gun violence, Mayor Bloomberg is aggressively mobilizing mayors to advocate for a national effort to halt the flood of illegal weapons. We applaud his efforts,” said Gloria Cruz, the other Co-President of the New York Million Mom March Chapters.

“As the mother of a murdered son, I have been waiting for a leader to emerge who will listen to the cries of mothers everywhere to stop the gun violence. I believe Mike Bloomberg is that leader and I respect and applaud him for his efforts,” added Carol Checkett, a Million Mom March Chapter activist and gun violence victim from Bay Ridge.

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The Million Mom March Chapters are a nationwide network of local volunteer activists of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the country’s largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence. Chapters work to enact sensible gun laws though federal and state legislation and elections, education and awareness campaigns, linking with victims, and coalition building and community outreach. The Brady Campaign and Million Mom March Chapters are devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in their communities. Online at www.millionmommarch.org and www.bradycampaign.org.