HOW THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON GUN VIOLENCE MUST BE INTERSECTIONAL! (1692 hits)
For Immediate Release From Ed Trust!
Today marks National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Of course, the headlines have been so packed with school shootings, we are painfully aware.
Again and again this year, we find ourselves mourning the senseless deaths of students whose lives were taken much too soon from gun violence. Last weekend it was Noblesville West Middle School in Indianapolis. The week before that it was Santa Fe High School.
Tragically, this has become the nation’s status quo, and students like Santa Fe’s Paige Curry aren’t even surprised that we’re willing to leave their lives in jeopardy. As we approach the end of the school year, we have already had dozens of students die from school shootings in 2018.
Amidst this tragedy, students are leading the way because adults have failed to take action to protect them time and time again. Students from Parkland, Florida have continued to raise their voices to advance the national conversation on gun violence. Their activism, especially in the immediate aftermath of experiencing such trauma, should inspire us all.
Even more inspiring has been their conscious and courageous choice to acknowledge their own privilege, whether attributable to race, class, or the quality of educational experiences they have received. In doing so, they are also lifting the voices of young African-American and Latino people in urban communities who have been calling for action on gun violence for years. And, importantly, we’re seeing diverse groups of young people working together for positive change. That’s a lesson that more adults should take to heart.
"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:2-4). It is obvious those children to whom God revealed his truth were those who humbled themselves as little children to listen to Jesus.
The intersection is the pro-gunners and the anti-gunners.
Saturday, June 9th 2018 at 12:53PM
Steve Williams
"I participated in the walkouts because I had been hearing about the shootings going on for a long time, and nothing was being done about them. I saw the pain and the fear in the survivors, the families of the victims, and even students at my own school, talking about where we would hide in case a shooter walked into our school. When I see so many people scared and angry that things weren’t changing, I knew it was time to show them how much change means to us.
The walkouts were extremely powerful, and I felt the passion of every single student participating. When people who are meant to protect you are not doing so, it is time to do something about it.
One of my teachers told the class that he often sees examples of our generation seeming hopeless and giving up. As soon as he said that, I raised my hand, along with many other students in the classroom. I told him that sometimes, we might seem a little hopeless, but those are in the moments when we feel the tragedies going on, and we see how much of a change is needed."
What progress has been done to stop these school shooting?
Sister Agnes Levine, Brothers and Sisters please excuse me but this last reply caught my attention, may I have a moment to ask this. Steve, was you referring to my question? If so, when you said "YOU," you must have been speaking in general, is that correct?
Saturday, June 9th 2018 at 5:44PM
Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
I was talking about the many anti-gunners who have called the NRA "murderers" and "terrorists".
Saturday, June 9th 2018 at 7:30PM
Steve Williams
Thank You very much. Sister Agnes Levine, I yield back the rest of my time.