#NEVERAGAIN, Federal legislation, Gun control, March For Our Lives

Benicia March for Our Lives – Saturday, March 24, 2018 #NEVERAGAIN

Remembering lives lost in Parkland, Florida … and calling for sensible national gun control

On March 24, 2018, a March for Our Lives will be held in Benicia, California.  The community is invited to gather in solidarity with the families and friends of those killed in the Parkland school massacre. We will join those marching in Washington D.C. and over 850 cities around the world on Saturday, March 24, demanding that sensible gun laws be passed by Congress and signed by the President.

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Click for Time Magazine coverage, 3/22/18

High School students and concerned others will gather on the First Street Green at the foot of First Street (map) at 10 A.M. and march up First Street to City Park, located at Military and First Streets (map).  A group of distinguished guests will speak from the gazebo in City Park, including several Benicia High School students and teachers, Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, Benicia Poet Laureate Johanna Ely, Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown, and representatives of our state and federal governing bodies.  Benicia Vice Mayor Steve Young will serve as master of ceremonies.

SIGN-MAKING WORKSHOP
Join us to make signs on Wednesday, March 21, 6-8pm in advance of the March and Rally.  Workshop hosted by Larnie Fox, location: Arts Benicia, 991 Tyler St., Ste 114, Benicia.  Bring your ideas, your passion and your friends. Wear grubby clothes. Creativity and thinking outside the box are highly encouraged. We’ll have materials available but you can also bring your own materials to the workshop. See you there!
Organizers of the event include Benicia High School students and a Benicia March For Our Lives Citizen Committee. Benicia police are pitching in to cordon off First Street for the march.  A growing list of local groups and individuals have offered support, including Progressive Democrats of Benicia, Benicia Soroptimists, Vallejo-Benicia Indivisible, Benicians For a Safe and Healthy Community, Carquinez Patriotic Resistance, and the Benicia Independent.

“Too many lives have been lost due to gun violence,” says Benicia High School student Christopher Weldon.  “It is time for our voices to be heard: it is time for every person to stand up, demand sensible gun laws of our legislators, and say ‘Never Again.’”

“We can make a change,” Benicia High School senior class president Shannon Sweeney says.  “We need to bring this change to the ballot box. We must demand it from our legislators.  We are the future voters.  We will not accept their complacency or corruption, and if it continues we will replace them.”

“This issue transcends partisanship,” says Benicia March For Our Lives Citizen Committee organizer Sheri Zada.  “Our children and youth must feel and be safe in order to learn, to thrive, and to grow into our leaders for tomorrow.”

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