Minnesota March for Our Lives – Join Us This Weekend!

Pre-March Rally & Sign-making, Friday 3/23; March for Our Lives, Saturday, 3/24

Youth groups, families, and adult allies from around the Minnesota Conference UCC are taking to the streets of St. Paul this weekend in the Minnesota March for Our Lives. Join us in supporting Minnesota students demanding action to end gun violence and calling our legislators to enact sensible gun control legislation. Following is information about how you can be part of this movement. Please note that many of the details have been updated since our communication last week.

Pre-March Rally, Dinner, and Sign Making Party

When:  Friday, March 23, 6-8PM

Where:  Olivet Congregational Church (1850 Iglehart Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104)

Contact/RSVP:  Vanessa Bradby at Olivet – vanessabradby@gmail.com or (952-353-6087)

Join us for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship. Enjoy a pizza dinner, good conversation with UCC folk from around the Conference, create signs to carry in Saturday’s march, and spend a few minutes connecting via video conference with the group of Minnesota Conference youth in Washington, D.C. to hear about their experience lobbying on Capitol Hill.

Minnesota March for Our Lives, St. Paul

Saturday, March 24,

Please click here https://marchforourlivesmsp.weebly.com/getting-there.html to check out the most up-to-date information from event organizers. Following are the details you will need to connect with our Minnesota Conference UCC contingent:

Schedule of Events:

• 8:30am Youth Groups/Youth Families gather at Harriet Island in Saint Paul
• 9:30am Youth begin march to the Capitol
• 10:00am Other adults and families with young children gather at the Capitol
• 11:00am All join for a rally on the Capitol steps calling for safer gun laws

T-shirt and sign pick-up:

The Minnesota Conference has 80 t-shirts in a variety of sizes available for marchers. We also have pre-printed signs available for all marchers. You may pick-up signs and t-shirts on Friday at the pre-march rally at Olivet Congregation or Saturday at Harriett Island. There will also be a supply of signs and a limited number of t-shirts available at the gathering place

Information for Youth Groups/Youth Families:

Plan to meet beginning at 8:30am in Harriett Park on top of the small bluff across the street from the Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk warehouse (106 Water Street, behind the Harriett Park covered stage with the two tower structures). You will see people wearing blue “March for Our Lives” t-shirts with the Minnesota Conference logo and carrying red and black UCC signs.

Information for other adults and families with young children:

Because Harriet Island will be crowded, we encourage groups of adults to go straight to the Capitol to welcome students as they arrive or join them along the march route north of the river. We have designated a UCC meeting spot at the Women’s Suffrage Memorial Garden (#9 on the map https://mn.gov/admin/assets/Capitol%20complex%20Monuments%20Memorials%200617_tcm36-298531.pdf  of the capitol grounds). You can also gather at the Kellogg Mall Park and join the march from there.

Parking Information:

Congregational groups will need to drop-off youth near Harriet Island and then find parking. Car/van drop-off will be along Plato Blvd. Please look out for marshals that may direct you into one of the car parks for unloading. There is ample parking available near the Minnesota state capitol. One option is the Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union parking lot on 525 Park Street Click here https://marchforourlivesmsp.weebly.com/getting-there.html for a map and more detailed information regarding unloading and parking options.

Question and event RSVPs to any planning team member:

Amy Wick-Moore – uccnbame@usfamily.net or 651-633-1327

Vanessa Bradby – vanessabradby@gmail.com or 952-353-6087

Dana Mann – dana@mankatoucc.org or 917-202-3738

Daniel Romero – dromero@firstchurchmn.org or 612-331-3816