In the wake of recent mass shootings, Pace e Bene/Campaign Nonviolence issued a Solidarity Call-to-Action. We asked people to join protests, vigils, and rallies organized by March for Our Lives (June 11) as well as earlier events coordinated by Every Town For Gun Safety and Students Demand Action. Here are some recent reports from people who took action. 

Have you taken action recently? Tell us about it! This is one way to “mainstream nonviolence” and build a culture of active nonviolence. Send us a Solidarity Action Report here>>

Paula Aiello from Berkeley, California writes: Three of us from Campaign Nonviolence East Bay participated in the March for Our Lives in Oakland, CA.  We supported the young children who organized the event and spoke eloquently of their perspective. I (Paula) want to help them build a better future. One of the speakers repeatedly asked the question - "Why?" and we all joined in. Paula dressed in black and wore a black veil as in mourning and sang an adaptation of the song "Cry of Ramah" by Colleen Fulmer. The key lines are:

A voice is heard in Ramah, [Sandy Hook], [Uvalde]
Mothers refusing comfort for their children are no more.
No garland of lovely flowers will dispel the ancient grief ....

Piero Falci in Parkland, Florida, reports: My wife and I and some friends took part in the March for Our Lives in Parkland, FL, and we demanded action. There were 1,000 people there. The crowd listened to all the sad stories from survivors of mass shootings in Columbine, Sandy Hook, and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. So sad. In general, people are discouraged. They do not believe that the Republican Party will do what needs to be done to regulate the purchase and use of guns. The chant that was repeated over and over again was “Vote Them Out.” It is our only hope. Let us do what we can to restore civility and treat each other with patience, kindness, and generosity. We are better than this and we deserve better. 

Rosie Davila in Wilmore, Kentucky, says: On Saturday, June 11th, I drove to Frankfort, Kentucky to participate in the March for Our Lives. I attended the event with about 250 other people, and we sat on the Capitol steps as we asked for change. Some representatives came out to talk with attendees about the issue of gun violence in our country, and that was heartening. We chanted, and there was also a voter registration booth. The highlight for me was interviewing a woman named Katima Smith Willis, a local activist from Frankfort. We spoke about the need for gun reform, and also remembering Trayvon Martin and Breonna Taylor.  There were about 250 people there!!!  This action built a broader culture of nonviolence simply by making people AWARE of the need. I heard from people of all walks of life--mothers whose children were killed, high schoolers who are afraid to attend their classes next year, grandfathers who are concerned about their grandchildren, and more. While some people drove by our protest with guns pointed out the window, confederate flags blazing, I heard from many Kentuckians who walked by and were moved by the event. This event prompted people to take action, and built the culture of nonviolence through the teamwork, effort, and love that went into it--and also the concrete action that took place!

Watch Rosie’s video here>>

Sr. Dorothy Jean Beyer in Mount Angel, Oregon writes, “We prayed for the end of violence at Mass and in our daily prayers. In support of the nationwide #WearOrange to end gun violence campaign, some of us also wore orange on June 3, 2022." 

Patrick in Sacramento, California reported that he chose to engage in direct confrontation with NRA leadership. He writes, “As an old lifetime member of the NRA, I sent off another scathing letter (I’m sure they hate me at HQ).  Auto rifles and pistols, and high capacity magazines are people killing machines, not tools of hunting. My father taught me that and much more. I teach my children and grandchildren.”