In Communities Across America, Huge Crowds Protest Gun Violence

Aug 28, 2007

Washington, DC - Advocates for laws making it harder for dangerous individuals to get firearms demanded action at events in more than 25 cities and towns from District Heights, Maryland to Seattle, Washington and from Dallas, Texas to the Twin Cities of Minnesota, on a national day of protest organized by the Reverend Jesse Jackson's Operation Rainbow/PUSH and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

The National Day of Protest marked the 44^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's March on Washington. Rev. Jackson reached out to the Brady Campaign in July and asked Paul Helmke, President of the national gun violence prevention group, to join his organization in planning a series of public protests to mark the anniversary.

"Our communities are under fire and our young people are at risk. Volunteers around the nation came out today to make it clear that there are steps we can take to fight that reality. And we won't stop demanding action until something is done," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "We can't be a shining city on a hill when we're an armed camp. I commend Rev. Jackson, and all the volunteer activists across the country who worked hard today to make their voices heard."

The day's events began at noon Easter time and continued until past dark in the Western U.S. Among them:

In District Heights, Maryland, local leaders marched, rallied and listened to speakers outside a gun dealership that has sold hundreds of guns later traced to crimes according to Federal gun trace data. The event drew local gun rights extremist protesters. The participants joined in a "lie-in" -lying down on the ground in silence in memory of the victims of Virginia Tech. Abigail Spangler, a mother and volunteer from Virginia, began organizing the protests shortly after the Virginia Tech massacre. The spontaneous "lie-in" today in District Heights was the 27^th such demonstration.
In Portland, Maine, concerned citizens staged a similar lie-in to express the group's outrage over the ease of access to firearms in the U.S. and in Maine.

In Duluth, Minnesota, a protest and bell ringing was held on the steps of City Hall in Duluth.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, parents and other concerned citizens staged a lie-in protest at the Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.
In Dallas, Texas, a march which the news media said attracted hundreds began at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue on Martin Luther King Boulevard and led to a rally at the Warren United Methodist Church.
In Newark, New Jersey, which has suffered terrible high-profile teenaged shootings recently, Mayor Cory Booker joined faith leaders and community activists at a 5 PM protest and speeches at Ivy Hill Park.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 32 individuals layed down to honor the murder victims of Virginia Tech and lament the ease of access to guns in America. The demonstration was scheduled for 6 PM at Schoolhouse Lane and Vaux Street.
In Houston, Texas, the protest was a "freeway blog" at 5 PM on the Montrose Bridge. Signs were displayed to rush hour traffic on the Montrose Bridge.

Additional events took place in many cities, including Phoenix, Arizona; Richmond, California; San Diego, California; Denver, Colorado; Springfield, Illinois; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Ewing, New Jersey; and Seattle, Washington.

###

As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org.