ERI Joins ‘March For Our Lives’

24 April 2018 0 Comments

Edmund Rice International participated in the New York City March for Our Lives on Saturday, March 24, 2018. Br. Kevin Cawley, Edmund Rice International main representative at United Nations Headquarters in New York, accompanied a small group of Iona students and faculty for the event in NYC. The Iona delegation joined with several hundred thousand citizens marching on behalf of those killed or injured in USA gun violence.

Numerous related events took place throughout the USA, most especially in Washington, DC. In particular, the marchers focused on school safety following the horrific attack in Parkland, Florida on February 14 of this year when 17 died and the attack that killed 20 first graders and their teachers in Newton, Connecticut in 2012. Several Parkland survivors addressed the marchers in New York City. A number of Sandy Hook survivors and parents joined as well.

The organizers of the March were clear about their mission: School safety is not a political issue. There cannot be two sides to doing everything in our power to ensure the lives and futures of children who are at risk of dying when they should be learning, playing, and growing. The mission and focus of March For Our Lives is to demand that a comprehensive and effective bill be immediately brought before Congress to address these gun issues. No special interest group, no political agenda is more critical than timely passage of legislation to effectively address the gun violence issues that are rampant in the United States.

Edmund Rice International will continue to advocate for sensible gun laws in the US. We note the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released its last comprehensive pastoral statement addressing gun violence in 1994, titled “Confronting a Culture of Violence: A Catholic Framework for Action,” and its leaders have followed up many times with statements supporting tighter gun restrictions including, a call in 2000 to ban most handguns except for law enforcement and the military.

Mr. Sean D’Alfonso, Mission Frère Advocacy Coordinator for the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America Province, has published a special edition of NorAm, the advocacy newsletter, highlighting the response of the Edmund Rice schools.

– Kevin Cawley CFC