Category Archives: Benicia CA

#NEVERAGAIN, Benicia CA, March For Our Lives, Schools

Benicia March For Our Lives

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald
[Editor: Alan Zada reported that the Benicia Police Department estimated the crowd at 1500.  I’ve added a few of my own photos here.  For more great photos, go to Larnie Fox’s Facebook page.  – RS]

Benicia teens lead march of about 800: ‘We will vote’

By Richard Freedman, 03/24/18
Many Benicia marchers carried protest signs.
Many Benicia marchers carried protest signs. RICH FREEDMAN — TIMES-HERALD

Benicia is known for its numerous parades. Protest marches? Not as much. Until Saturday.

Around 800 residents braved an early morning chill led by students with a NEVER AGAIN banner, getting a jump on the national March for Our Lives with a walk up First Street and speeches at the City Park gazebo.

Benicia High School students led the morning march up First Street with an estimated 800 participating.
Benicia High School students led the morning march up First Street with an estimated 800 participating. RICH FREEDMAN — TIMES-HERALD

“Brave students have come together to say ‘enough is enough,’” said Assemblyman Tim Grayson, adding that he appeared in Benicia not as a politician, but as the father of a 16-year-old.

“A parent shouldn’t have to wonder if a child is going to be safe at school,” Grayson said.

Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson — ROGER STRAW, BENICIA INDEPENDENT

“Today we are together, tomorrow we are together and we will still be together until we end gun violence,” proclaimed Mayor Elizabeth Patterson, calling for “a ban of weapons of war on our streets.”

Shannon Sweeney, 17, Benicia Senior Class president and one of the event coordinators, smiled at the turnout of the peaceful march.

“I’ve learned what it’s like to come together with a lot of people to make change,” she said. “It’s nice to see all these people showing up to protect our students and everyone from gun violence.” Continue reading Benicia March For Our Lives →

#NEVERAGAIN, Benicia CA, Gun control, Rep. Mike Thompson

Mike Thompson makes news in Benicia: “military grade assault weapons do not belong in citizens’ hands”

March 17, 2018
Congressional Representative holds Town Hall in Benicia CA on March 17
US Representative Mike Thompson, California’s Fifth District

I became a Mike Thompson fan at his Benicia Town Hall on March 17.

Our Representative demonstrated a thorough grasp of shocking gun violence statistics.  He is strongly opposed to arming teachers and supports CDC research into gun violence.  He is an expert on legislative procedural matters regarding gun control, and chairs a House Task Force on Gun Violence.  He is sponsoring a number of bills (of note, H.R. 1565) and supporting others, and was very much aware of the accelerating national opposition to NRA influence.

Although Rep. Thompson focuses primarily on practical, achievable legislative goals like strengthening background checks, he spoke plainly about assault weapons at the town hall in Benicia, California.  More than once, Thompson boldly asserted that military grade automatic and semi-automatic assault weapons “do not belong in the hands of citizens.”

What can this mean other than an assault weapons ban?  Some day.  When asked if he supports Senator Feinstein’s 2017 bill to ban assault weapons, Rep. Thompson nodded affirmatively, and said he agreed, and repeated that “assault weapons do not belong in citizen hands.”

Two current House bills proposing a ban on assault weapons are not yet supported by Thompson: H.R.5087 and H.R.4268.  And as of this writing, Thompson’s view opposing assault weapons does not yet appear on his website, nor in any press release I can find.  It seems the Congressman was unveiling a new and stronger position here in Benicia last Saturday.

Recent Thompson press releases:

#NEVERAGAIN, Benicia CA, Gun control, Schools

Benicia High School Students stage on-campus walkout for Gun Safety

March 14, 2018
Students rally on the Quad in remembrance of those killed in Parkland FL

Prevented by Benicia School policy from leaving campus to memorialize and voice their opinions, Benicia’s high school students assembled in the outdoor Quad at 10am today.  Several student leaders spoke through loudspeakers from a balcony.

Benicia Herald reporter George Johnston was allowed on campus, and shot this 13-minute video, posted on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/GeorgesJohnston/status/973968318255194112

#NEVERAGAIN, Benicia CA, Gun control

Mark your calendar: Sat. March 24 – Benicia Rally, #NEVERAGAIN

EARLY NOTICE – PLANNING STILL IN THE WORKS!

Please mark your calendars for Saturday, March 24.  A group of Benicia citizens, including some of our high school students, are planning a rally to remember the loss of 17 lives in the Parkland, Florida high school mass shooting – and for sensible gun control measures.

Plans for the event are still unfolding, so stay tuned here on Benicia Independent.  For UPDATES, check HERE: