Lots of protests still went on in Iowa today in spite of the snow storm, including thousands in Des Moines at the Capitol.
After watching Emma Gonzales silent speech today I want women and men like her to lead me into the future! She is my hero(ine)
^agrre about Emma Gonzalez! I’m adding Naomi Wadler , 11 year old (wow)who commanded the stage like a professional. I predict a future leader. Clearly, she had adult assistance, but she delivered that speech with such poise. Love her !
We marched n Parkland - not sure exactly how many people were there but one article I saw said about 15,000. A lot of neighboring towns had marches as well so I was glad that didn’t take away from the Parkland march too much.
Everything was organized so well from the free shuttles from all over South Florida to the volunteers handing out water and snacks. I loved that as soon as we got there a volunteer told us our kids (we had my 2 D’s and their friends) could go up front - they had blocked off the entire front section just for students and staff. The speeches were amazing from MSD students (one who had been shot in the knee and was in a knee brace) to alumni to teachers to both Gina and Alex’s fathers - SO sad. They had the speakers walk out first, then the rest of the MSD students then the rest of the students. Then we all flooded them and marched 2 miles to MSD High School.
The only hitch we had was that one friend felt like she was going to pass out while she was in the big student crowd. My D21 walked out to the edge of the crowd to call me, in the meantime the other girls decided to walk the friend out and my D21 lost them. Cell phones barely worked and we were never able to get in touch with D21 again. I wasn’t worried, I knew she would be fine, but it was frustrating to spend the last hour trying to reach her and look for her. As soon as the kids walked out we found her.
Yes, Naomi Wadler is another woman I want leading me into the future! She and the others are a true inspiration and I feel hopeful in their capable hands as I age and they become the future.
DH and older daughter and I marched in NY. Younger d and her friends were in DC for a friend’s wedding last night, they marched yesterday. Entire day was uplifting and inspiring. We were too far back in the crowd to hear the speakers in NY but we did have many good conversations with those around us. Our LIRR train going in was packed with marchers as was Penn Station. Poignantly we were very close to the current Newtown HS students out on Central Park West standing and encouraging everyone along with Sandy Hook Parents. The Trauma Surgeons of Columbia Presbyterian were standing in silence at Columbus Circle but their signs said it all…having operated on too many victims of gun violence.
Escorted a busload of HS Juniors to the March in DC. It was an amazing experience for all of us, even though we were too far away to see the stage and had to stand up for 4 hours straight plus about 7 miles of walking to go to and from the bus. These students are forever altered – they can’t wait to participate in our democracy and they will vote.
Also want to send a call-out to the of the DC residents along the path from the bus – those who gave out water, food, and swag (pinwheels, bubbles, maps). Love you all!
Pope Francis today encouraged youth to continue to speak out and make their voices heard. An ally.
Just read about the students in WI marching from Madison to Paul Ryan’s home in Janesville, 50 miles, stopping every 17 miles in solidarity with the 17 Parkland victims. Many joining in along the way. March also marks the anniversary of Dr. King’s Selma to Montgomery march in 1965.
I do feel that “something’s happening here”. Watching the student speakers including the 11 year old and Dr. King’s granddaughter… so impressed and touched.
Naomi had helped to organize a march recently at her elementary school. That got the attention of the march organizers. The youth speakers just gutted me.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/the-story-behind-11-year-old-naomi-wadler-and-her-march-for-our-lives-speech/2018/03/25/3a6dccdc-3058-11e8-8abc-22a366b72f2d_story.html?utm_term=.da986a505e4b
Very interesting report from Chicago’s Southside
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/26/podcasts/the-daily/chicago-gun-violence.html
You mean like when the had to offer security on the routes the kids walked to school? Chicago is out of control. Nobody cares.
The March folks care. They are trying to improve safety for all Americans.
I think plenty of people care. The MSD students have joined forces with students from areas wheee gun violence is a daily event. I marched partly because I lost a sibling to suicide with a gun. These marches were for more than just school violence — I believe this generation will be working on all aspects of gun violence over the coming years.
The next step is a series of town halls held throughout the country on April 7th. Incumbents and candidates for office have been invited to come discuss gun violence and possible solutions, see townhallproject.com
We all know why places like Chicago and Flint are ignored by those in power. Worse, the kids know why they’re ignored.
Yes, it’s a travesty that more national attention hasn’t been paid to places where black and brown kids are routinely slaughtered, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take advantage of this momentum. (By “we” I mean those of us who want guns off the streets.)
And yet another reminder that protests have been going on for years in Chicago. That it didn’t pick up national attention doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
^ listen to the radio report above. It’s 20minutes and worth listening to.
Interesting update on the Maryland school shooting, where it turns out the resource officer was not able to hit the shooter, who died from a self-inflicted shot to his head.
This is an important distinction. It demonstrates that when these school shooters encounter any meaningful resistence they tend to default to suicide, thus ending the attack. It’s why the deputy refusing to enter MSD was such an egregious violation of his duties.
It is certainly possible that suicide was his plan all along. The police have said It often is in these situations.