Why April 20?
April 20 is the day of the massacre at Columbine High School during which 12 students and one teacher were killed. The significance of the date for those of us dedicated to stopping gun violence outweighs any pre-existing associations to that date.
What should I do on April 20?
On April 20th we are asking you to participate in a high profile activity of your choosing that demonstrates your support for legislation and programs designed to reduce gun violence in schools. The color of gun control is orange. Please wear an orange armband, t shirt or headband that day. See the suggested activities we list here.
We ask that any activity be respectful and peaceful in honor of those we have lost. We are not battling our communities or school administration. We are working together as educators, students, families and communities to send a clear message to policymakers and legislators.
There are other events that are happening including a March on Washington on the 24th. Why not have one day?
In the past, when gun tragedies happened, they attracted attention and mourning for a week or two. We say “no more moving on.” It will take the work of many groups on many days to overcome the resistance to change. We salute and support all efforts to combat gun violence, and we look forward to working with every group that shares our goals.
