Day of events at State Capitol honors legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the lives lost to gun violence in Virginia
Richmond, VA – On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, gun violence prevention groups will come together for the 23rd Annual Vigil & Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. The day’s events will honor the memory and teachings of a great non-violent leader who was killed by gunfire.
Participants will visit with state legislators to discuss gun violence prevention, as well as honor the lives of all Virginians killed by gun violence. The public is invited to commit to reducing gun violence by attending and raising their voices for responsible gun laws.
“We need to ensure that those with an elevated risk of violence don’t have access to firearms,” said Josh Horwitz, executive director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, one of more than a dozen gun violence prevention organizations participating in Monday’s events. “Gun violence prevention is always a hotly contested issue in Virginia’s General Assembly, and the current session is no exception. As legislators consider various policy proposals over the next five weeks, we believe it is imperative that they have access to top experts and the best research available on this issue.”
What:
23rd Annual Vigil & Advocacy Day
When:
Monday, January 19
2 p.m. – Vigil
5 p.m. – Visits with state legislators
Where:
Vigil: Bell Tower, 9th Street and Franklin Street, Richmond
Legislator Visits: General Assembly Building, 1000 Bank Street (State Capital), Richmond
Who:
Virginia Center for Public Safety organizes the event with more than a dozen fellow participating organizations.
This event is open to the public, and members of the media are invited to attend. You can follow along and or contribute via social media using the hashtag #SpeakUp4GVP.
The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (Ed Fund) is the 501(c)(3) sister organization of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. The organization has engaged in a number of successful public education campaigns over the years aimed at reducing gun death and injury. The Ed Fund can be found on Twitter.
