Job Well Done

On Saturday, June 28, 2014, Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy held a Walk & Rally for Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales.  Turn out was amazing, and the collective demonstration of people power throughout the day was exactly what this movement needed.  We are beginning to witness the elements we need for success:  persistence, empowerment, and passion.

Over 250 people attended the rally, including 150 folks of all ages, religions, and ethnic heritage who joined the seven-mile walk from the Martin Luther King historical marker at Calvary Baptist Church in Chester to the Providence Friends Meeting House in Media.

See great photos by Daily Times blogger, Mary Ann Feibert

See photos of the event with the front page article in the Daily Times website.

Read the front page article in the Daily Times.

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and share your photos and video of the event

Signs, banners, flags, tee-shirts, songs, and chants sent a clear message to thousands of pedestrians and drivers in Chester, Nether Providence, and Media during the walk from Chester to Media. “We want Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales – Now.”

Our walkers displayed courage and strong spirit when passing by 75-100 armed counter-demonstrators gathered at Baltimore Pike and Rt. 252. Singing the civil rights anthem, “We Shall Overcome,” our contingent avoided confrontation with opponents and remained focused on the purpose of the walk.

At the rally, Bob McMahon, Mayor of Media, welcomed the audience and asked for a moment of silence for all the victims of gun violence. Staff members from the offices of U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) and U.S. Congressmen Robert Brady (D) and Patrick Meehan (R) read statements of support for legislation that would establish universal background checks on gun sales.

John Linder, Mayor of Chester; Shira Goodman, Executive Director of CeaseFire PA; Movita Johnson-Harrell, mother of a son lost to gun violence; Christine Licata, Pennsylvania Chapter Leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; and Rev. Anita Littleton, Chairperson of the Chester City-Delaware County Chapter of Heeding God’s Call also presented. Two candidates seeking election to the PA House of Representatives, Whitney Hoffman (D-160th District) and Vince Rongione (D-163rd District), and one candidate running for PA State Senate, John Kane (D-26th District), spoke in favor of universal background checks.

Dassette Cameron, a Chester resident, recited a poem about the pain and trauma of losing friends to gun violence.

The regionally acclaimed Chester Children’s Chorus brought the crowd to its feet with a rousing musical performance to end the program.

June 28th was an amazing day for our local movement to pass sensible gun policies.

Thank you to everyone who organized, volunteered, and participated.