Newtown Action Alliance, 47 Gun Violence Prevention Organizations, Urge Student Walkouts to Spur Action

 Led by Newtown Action Alliance, formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings in 2012, a joint statement from 47 gun violence prevention organizations and allies was released this week after an unprecedented expulsion of two elected state representatives in Tennessee, which was a reaction to their participation in an anti-gun violence rally at that state’s Capitol.

“Yesterday, the authoritarian Republican majority of the Tennessee House of Representatives, beholden to the gun lobby, unjustly expelled two black Democratic representatives -- Justin Jones and Justin Pearson -- while sparing the white representative Gloria Johnson, for standing with students and their families who were demanding action to end gun violence after three children and three educators were killed by a shooter with an assault weapon 10 days ago in Covenant School in Nashville. When representative Gloria Johnson was asked why she wasn’t expelled, she replied: ‘It may have something to do with the color of our skin.’  

“We cannot stay silent while our democracy and our lives are on the line,” the statement continued. “We, the undersigned groups, call for continuous #GenerationLockdown #EndGunViolence student walkouts across the nation and urge their educators, parents, and communities to support them. We also call on school administrators and school boards to refrain from retaliation against students and staff for participating in the walkouts.

“THE TIME IS NOW for all Americans to stand up and demand change to keep our children safe in our schools, homes, and streets. Guns are now the number one killer of American children and teens. Students are no longer waiting for permission to demand that their lawmakers take action to keep them safe from gun violence.

“Lawmakers on all levels of government must act urgently to pass a set of bold, comprehensive gun laws to dramatically reduce gun deaths and injuries in all of our communities.”

The statement was co-signed by: Advocate for Change, Ban Assault Weapons Now, Blessed Ministries & Survivor Smiles , Central Valley Democratic Club, Change The REF, City of Monterey Park, Community Justice, Culver 878, Democratic Public Education Caucus of Florida , Democratic women alliance, Doctors for America, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance, Ethan Miller Song Foundation, Gays Against Guns, Gun Violence Prevention PAC, GunSense Vermont, Honor with Action Coalition, Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence, IMPACT (Illinois Medical Professionals Action Collaborative Team), Indivisible Chicago Alliance, indivisible northern nevada, JACPAC, Japanese American Citizens League, Journey4ward, Jr. Newtown Action Alliance, Lives Robbed, Maine Gun Safety Coalition, Mo/KS Grandparents for Gun Safety, National Organization for Women , NCJW, Newtown Action Alliance, Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety, Park Slope United Methodist Church Social Action Committee , People for a Safer Society, Prevent Gun Violence Florida , Rocky Mountain Hye Advocates, S.A.F.E. To Thrive, SOUTH ASIAN NETWORK, St. Mark's Episcopal Church Washington DC, Survivors Empowered, Tender Youth, The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, The ENOUGH Campaign , Urban Community Unity Solutions LLC, Veterans For Peace Maine Chapter, Violent Crime Survivors, and WAVE Educational Fund.

A week ago, in the days following the mass shooting in a Nashville school that killed three 9-yar-olds and three adults, Newtown Action Alliance issued a statement that read in part:

“Since 20 children and six educators were killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School, we have worked unapologetically for over a decade to pass the assault weapons ban legislation. After 30 years of inaction, the 117th House of Representatives finally passed the ban last year but the 117th Senate failed to act and now more children and educators have been killed. 

More than 13.7 million AR-15s have been manufactured since Congress failed to ban assault weapons after Sandy Hook and the sale of these weapons of war resulted in $11 billion in revenue for the gun industry. The Members of Congress will have more blood of children and educators on their hands and they will help the gun executives line their pockets with blood money if they do not pass the ban. 

Enough is enough! The time is now for Congress to vote and pass the ban and deliver it to President Biden’s desk rather than continuing to arm future school shooters with assault weapons.”

The mission of Newtown Action Alliance “is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.”