NEW YORK, June 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A crowd of more than800gathered in Brooklyn this morning for the "2nd Annual Brooklyn Bridge March and Rally to End Gun Violence." The event, hosted by theGreater New York City Chapter of Moms Demand Action, brought together gun violence prevention advocates fromaround the country and moms from over 20 states in an effort to raise awareness about gun violence prevention and to promote the group's Gun Sense Voter Campaign with Everytown for Gun Safety. Participants elevated the call ofRichard Martinez, whose son Christopher was killedon Fridayin the Santa Barbara tragedyby chanting, "Not One More!"
After crossing the bridge, the crowd gathered outside of City Hall, where speakers shared their personal experiences with gun violence. The speakers line up led by Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America included Amanda Peet, actress, play write and UN ambassador for Shot at Life; Maria Delus, who's nephew Pierre-Paul was shot and killed in Queens; Erica Lafferty, daughter of Dawn Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School who was killed in the Newtown shooting; Lucia McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis, who was shot and killed at a Florida gas station; and Antonius Wiriadjaja, who was shot in the chest by a stray bullet Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. The first Junior Ambassador of Moms Demand Action, Christopher Underwood joined as well.
Other notable attendees included Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Adam Scott, and Co-Chairs of the New York City Gun Violence Awareness Month Tamika Mallory and Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn).
"Today's event showcased the resilience and dedication of our moms and advocates to end gun violence in this country," said Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action. "Turn out for today's event surpassed our numbers from last year's, which is yet another indication of the groundswell that is the grassroots power of moms. It's been eighteen months since the tragedy at Newtown and if the gun lobby thinks we're going away, today's crowd is evidence that they are sorely mistaken."
At City Hall, participants also signed pledge cards for the Gun Sense Voter Campaign, an initiative that will for the first time, mobilize one million voters who will go to the polls in November and vote to end gun violence. Gun sense is the simple idea that we can do much more to keep our families and communities safe from gun violence.
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Much like Mothers Against Drunk Driving was created to change laws regarding drunk driving, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was created to build support for common-sense gun reforms. The nonpartisan grassroots movement of American mothers is demanding new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and is part of Everytown for Gun Safety along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 1.8 million supporters including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for reforms that respect the Second Amendment and protect people. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Contact: Lizzie Ulmer
Phone: 269-271-2331
E-mail: lulmer@everytown.org
Contact: Kim Russell, National Director of Outreach
Phone: 917-226-4420
E-mail: krussell@momsdemandaction.org
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SOURCE Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
