‘How could you want people shooting other people?’
Crowd turns out for event in Niantic to raise gun violence awareness
East Lyme — A sea of orange enveloped downtown Niantic Sunday as dozens of residents, and several local businesses, gathered to raise awareness about gun violence.
Although delayed a day due to rain, Sunday’s event hosted by the local chapter of Moms Demand Action drew many families sporting orange apparel and provided information on ways to reduce gun violence, as well as activities for children including face painting, coloring, bean bag toss, and arts and crafts.
Several downtown business owners proudly displayed orange signs in their windows as well, and Sandy Hook Promise, Safe Futures and the Ledyard SAVE Promise Club were also on hand to help raise awareness of various elements connected to gun violence. The East Lyme Police also contributed free gun locks that were given away at the event.
“We want to raise awareness about gun violence and the toll that it takes in our country, but we did want it to be approachable,” said Rachel Everley of Southeastern CT Moms Demand Action. “We want to try and reach everybody.”
In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day and in solidarity with the Wear Orange movement — which was started in honor of Hadiya Pendelton, a 15-year-old Chicagoan who was shot and killed just one week after performing at President Barack Obama’s second inaugural parade — hundreds of events were held throughout the country over the weekend to promote awareness about gun violence.
And in Connecticut, where gun violence and particularly its impact on children hits especially close to home, there was no shortage of events. Most of the 14 local chap-
ters in Connecticut of Moms Demand Action held events over the weekend, and residents showed up in force.
In Niantic, several people spoke of feeling they were called to action and shared their concerns about the safety of children in schools.
“How could you not speak up? How could you not want safety? How could you want people shooting other people?” said Ellen Hammen of East Lyme, adding that it makes her sick that kids are having to do drills in school to hide from guns.
For some it was the direct impact of gun violence on their own lives that drew them to sharing their voices.
Two years ago Tammy de la Cruz's son Joey Gingerella was shot and killed when he tried to he tried to stop an assault against a woman in the parking lot of pub in Groton.
De la Cruz said that it was the loss of her son, as well as inspiration she drew from the students in Parkland, Fla., that brought her to Sunday's event.
“I'm so proud of these kids for bringing attention to this,” said de la Cruz. “I want to join with them because I know what it is to lose somebody, and it's a journey that nobody wants to go down.”