Several Thousands Expected
Tony Bennett, 17 time Grammy Award Winner, and Activist Rev. Al Sharpton will join New York Voices Against Gun Violence and a broad, newly-formed coalition of advocates, victims, youth organizations, healthcare workers, unions, elected officials, faith leaders and artists in a rally—this Thursday, March 21st at 4:30PM— to promote the NY SAFE Act as a model for legislation at the federal level and in other states.
As the rally begins, a procession in memory of the victims lost to gun violence will begin on 124th Street near Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (7th Avenue), moving through the gathering toward the rally stage at Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and 125th Street.
The procession and the rally will focus attention on the human toll of gun violence that is plaguing our nation on a daily basis. The coalition includes prominent gun violence prevention groups such as Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, the Brady Campaign, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.
The coalition strongly supports the NY SAFE Act’s common sense protections, such as mental health and criminal background checks, tougher restrictions on assault weapons, limits on high-capacity ammunition and measures to keep guns out of schools.
The NY SAFE Act, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo in January, was designed to prevent the kinds of mass shootings plaguing our nation such as the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in which 20 children and six adults were killed. The Act will also help reduce the gun violence that has devastated families and communities in New York’s urban centers. There is new urgency to defend the NY SAFE Act as big weapons companies and the gun lobbies have tried to build opposition and challenges to the law.
The procession will begin on 124th Street near Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (7th Avenue) and will move through the gathering toward the stage at Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and 125th Street.
Others who will attend: Darren Wagner, Former Sheriff and Newtown, CT Resident; George Gresham, 1199SEIU/President; Michael Mulgrew, United Federation of Teachers/President; Dr. Steven M. Safyer, Montefiore Medical Center/President and CEO; Dr. Vanessa Gorospe, Harlem Hospital/ ER resident physician; Kenneth Raske, Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) /resident; Leah Gunn Barrett, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence/Executive Director; Shannon Watts, Moms Demand Action /Founder; Hazel Dukes, NAACP/President of the NAACP New York State Conference; Dan Gross, Brady Campaign; Jackie Rowe Adams, Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E; Vy Higgensen and her Harlem Teen Gospel;
Rev. Jacque DeGraff, Cannan Baptist Church; and, Iesha Sekou, Street Corner Resources.
