Join Us for the Minnesota March for Our Lives in St. Paul

March 24, 2018 9 a.m. – Noon

Like many people across the country and around the world, we were heartbroken to learn of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. School shootings, and mass shootings more broadly, are systemic failures: systemic easy access to guns and ammunition, and systemic white male rage, especially when we realize that several of the men who committed these mass shootings have histories of violence against women. But, as people of faith, as tragic as the Parkland events were, we are not deterred and opportunities still exist for us to create just communities and our young people are leading the way.

“We strongly believe that mass shootings and overall gun violence are not some

fixture of society or a constant that nothing can be done about. We know that there

can be change and that no more innocent lives should be lost because of gun violence.”

Zach Dyar,

Youth Member from First Congregational Church of Minnesota

On March 24th, young people are organizing the “March for Our Lives” in Washington, D.C., and solidarity events, also led by young people, will be launched in cities across the country, including in St. Paul. We are proud that the Minnesota Conference UCC is sending a delegation of 14 youth to be part of the march in Washington, D.C., and is actively supporting the march in St. Paul.

Join us on Saturday, March 24th for the Minnesota March for Our Lives. We will begin gathering at 9am for the opening rally at Harriet Island Park in St. Paul. At 10am we will all march together to the State Capitol for the main rally from 11am-noon. We also invite anyone to participate in a pre-march rally, dinner, and sign making party at Olivet UCC in St. Paul on Friday, March 23.  The Olivet community is also offering their space for any group coming to the march who needs overnight lodging of Friday.

Please look for more details in next week’s COMMAntary.  Also, the march organizers are in need of volunteers to help plan and staff the St. Paul event; please contact the event organizers if you can lend your time and energy to this effort by checking out the event Facebook page here. https://www.facebook.com/events/408242742955428/

From a Quinnepiac poll conducted six days after the recent Florida shooting:   

• 59% of Americans believe more guns carried by more people makes us less safe
• 67% of Americans believe it is too easy to buy guns
• 67% of Americans support a nationwide ban on assault weapons
• 83% of Americans support a mandatory waiting period for gun purchases

These facts speak to the utter lack of accountability and failure of our elected leaders to act consistently with the will of the people. They also show that political contributions by the gun lobby are valued more by elected officials than the lives of our citizens. But we’re not giving up and we’re not going away. Thousands of young people are fighting hard for their own lives and for the lives of people around them and they are holding political leaders accountable. The Minnesota Conference proudly stands with them and we hope you will too. Join us in St. Paul on March 24th.

If you have any questions or if you need more information, please contact any of the Minnesota Conference planners listed below.

Amy Wick-Moore – uccnbame@usfamily.net 651.633.1327

Vanessa Bradby – vanessabradby@gmail.com 952.353.6087

Dana Mann – dana@mankatoucc.org 917.202.3738

Daniel Romero – dromero@firstchurchmn.org 612.331.3816