Photos Courtesy of Benjamin Kanter/
Mayoral Photography Unit; Kevin P. Coughlin/
Office of the Governor; and Rep. Meng’s Office
By Michael V. Cusenza
Last Wednesday, at precisely 10 a.m., students from Parkland, Fla., to College Point, Queens, organized and walked out of their classrooms and buildings for 17 minutes to honor the 17 people gunned down in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month and to call attention to the plague of gun-based violence in the U.S. and the absence of common sense federal firearm-safety legislation.
“This is a very important issue right now,” said State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach), “and these students deserve to have their voices heard.”
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) met with thousands of students who descended on Capitol Hill to demand passage of tougher gun-safety laws.
“Today we say enough is enough to gun violence and I am proud to stand in solidarity with America’s students in the fight to prevent additional gun tragedies,” the congresswoman said. “I salute the advocacy and passion of these young men and women and I applaud each and every one of them for taking a stand and making their voices heard. No student should fear going to school and all communities deserve to feel safe. We must keep up the fight to prevent future gun violence and I will continue to do all I can to help make that happen.”
