Napa March for our Lives Event on Saturday, March 24, 2018

Napa adults and teens are teaming up to host two local events in conjunction with the national March for Our Lives event on Saturday, March 24.

In response to the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and dozens of other school shootings that have taken place across the country, as well as the recent shootings at the Pathway Home in Yountville, local adults and teens have planned a day of action. The local gatherings are part of the national March for Our Lives event demanding an end to the epidemic of mass school shootings and a solution to gun violence. Napa’s events will take place on Saturday, March 24, 9 am-1 pm, at the Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) Auditorium, 2425 Jefferson Street, Napa.

A town hall from 9 to 11 am will bring together local, state and federal officials with those directly affected by gun violence, seeking to engage and challenge them to exhibit leadership on issues vital to student safety, public health and community well-being. Panelists include Congressman Mike Thompson; Mayor Jill Techel; Napa Police Chief Steve Potter; and Napa County Mental Health Director Bill Carter; as well as Griffin Dix of the Brady Campaign and Napan Jane Williams, both of whom lost children to gun violence; small business owner Steve Sando, who recently made news for cutting ties with shipping provider FedEx because of its support of the NRA; and via Skype, Talia Rumsky, a Marjory Stoneman Davis High School sophomore and school shooting survivor. The town hall is hosted by concerned Napa parents, Women’s March Napa Valley and the League of Women Voters of Napa County.

"A group of parents got together after the Parkland shooting and realized we needed to learn more about the best options for decreasing the likelihood of school and non-school shootings. We decided to hold a town hall and ask those who are much closer to the issue for advice,” said Matt Eisenberg, one of the parents. “NVUSD supported the concept of a public forum on these issues, and Women's March Napa Valley and The League of Women Voters Napa County quickly agreed to host the event with leadership from the core local parent group. Representative Mike Thompson agreed to be our first panelist and provide logistical assistance and we then recruited other panelists with a range of associations to the gun violence issue."

Irit Weir, organizer of Women’s March Napa Valley, noted that her group has so far produced two successful marches with numerous town hall meetings to bring the community together and start a dialogue. “What we are doing now is empowering the next generation and supporting them to become activists, for us to hear their voices,” she said.

Students will lead an outdoor rally and concert following the town hall, from 11 am to 1 pm. Teens from Napa, Vintage, Justin-Siena, New Technology and American Canyon High Schools, as well as some middle school students, will present a montage of speeches and songs focused on solving the gun violence epidemic. Isabella Goldman, a senior at Napa High, and Juan Carlos, a senior at Justin-Siena, will open the rally with a speech in English and Spanish. The event will feature a sing-a-long as well as original songs and speeches about gun violence. Attendees at the family-friendly event are encouraged to wear orange as a symbol of their support for the national effort and bring a blanket or low-back chair to enjoy the festivities.

“I’m doing this because things need to change,” says Isabella Goldman, one of the student organizers. “For too long, we have been told that we’re too young to understand how the world works. I don’t want my friends’ lives or my own to be in jeopardy because of gun violence. School is a place where we should feel safe, and we can’t wait for government to do something. It’s time for our voices to be heard and show that our generation is the generation that is going to make change.”

“The tragedy in Parkland brought the attention to our youth,” added Weir. “We are so proud of them and their ability to see clearly the issues and problems of gun control. Because of the trauma that was experienced, they are saying ‘No more, enough is enough.’ Our job is to support them fully and stand behind them and next to them. They are the future and lots of them are going to be eligible to vote soon. Change is in the air.”

WHAT:
Napa Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Town Hall and Napa
Student Rally and Concert for Our Lives

WHEN:
Saturday, March 24, Town Hall: 9 -11 am; Student Rally/Concert: 11 am-1 pm

WHERE:
Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) Auditorium, 2425 Jefferson Street, Napa

INFO:
For more information, visit WomensMarchNapaValley.org or on Facebook or email matt@matteisenberg.com.