| WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined Senator Edward
Kennedy (D-MA) and a bipartisan group of House members at the unveiling
of America Up in Arms. The movie by filmmaker Rory Kennedy is a compelling
story of three families who lost their children to gun violence and is
the centerpiece of First Monday 2000 campaign.
This
year’s campaign, First Monday 2000: Unite to End Gun Violence, is a national
initiative coordinated by the Alliance for Justice in conjunction with
Physicians for Social Responsibility. Hundreds of events are set
for Monday, October 2. In Chicago, events are scheduled to take place
in Loyola, Northwestern University, University of Chicago Law School, John
Marshall Law School and Chicago Kent College of Law
From
its early planning stages in January, Schakowsky has been actively involved
and supportive of the campaign. Below is her statement from today’s
event.
“I
would like to thank Senator Kennedy for organizing the world premiere of
America Up in Arms. I am also proud to join my colleagues and especially
Alliance for Justice and Physicians for Social Responsibility at today’s
screening.
“Next
week, thousands of activists will see this film for the first time during
First Monday 2000 events. Over time, I hope millions will also view
this documentary of three families who have suffered so much.
“This
compelling film demonstrates that gun violence is all around us. We see
it every day on our television screens and read about it in our newspapers.
Rarely does a night go by without our local news reporting another shooting
or the morning newspapers writing about the latest victim of gun violence.
Even in my hometown of Evanston, we experienced three shootings in one
night.
“It
doesn’t matter if you’re in Chicago or small town USA, guns are everywhere
– in the schools, on the trains, and in the workplace. Numbers don’t
lie – over 30,000 people, including 4000 children, die each year from gun
violence. We’re all affected. Anyone who says otherwise is
in denial.
“So
let me ask you this -- is it our responsibility in Congress to stand up
to the gun lobby and protect our children and our communities from guns?
I say yes. I don’t want to attend another funeral where grieving parents
are asking why their child’s life was cut short by a bullet.
“On
Mother’s Day, millions of mothers and fathers told us that they are prepared
to do whatever it takes to shield their children. I believe them.
And with First Monday 2000, we are adding to our numbers and mobilizing
young men and women on campuses across the country to bring even more energy
to our cause. This is an unprecedented campaign to stop gun violence.
And we will succeed. I am proud to be a part of this effort.
We are energized, empowered and ready. We are looking forward to First
Monday 2000 when the next generation of activists will join with all of
us to tell America “NO MORE GUN VIOLENCE, NO MORE DELAY.” |
