Basking Ridge Students, Parents March In DC Against Gun Violence

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Students and parents piled into a bus and traveled more than 200 miles to Washington, D.C. to participate in the The March For Our Lives rally on Saturday.

This march was held to continue the message of speaking out against gun violence and mass shootings in the schools.

The trip from Basking Ridge was organized by township local Rick Winegar, who has two children — one in Ridge High School.

"I have a daughter in high school and a daughter in college, studying to be an elementary school teacher. I marched for their lives and the lives of all children," Winegar said. "For decades American adults distracted themselves with fear mongering all types of threats to our nation's security while the real threat to our children's safety continued to take their lives, every day. So I marched with, and I will stand with our children as they call 'B.S.' and say 'Enough is Enough'."

Student Shreya Bhalla also took the trip to D.C. to march.

"I marched for those who have been silenced by senseless gun violence in America. I want to make a difference in this country to keep all students and people safe," Bhalla said.

One parent, Deb Cortigiani, was personally impacted by gun violence in 1996 in Montclair.

"I couldn’t not march," Cortigiani said. "One day, my husband needed to mail a letter. He walked to a small satellite office that we hadn’t even known existed. I thank God that he decided to put his letter in the mailbox outside the post office, because it turns out at that at almost the same time he was mailing his letter outside, a disgruntled ex-employee was robbing the post office inside with a gun. He lined the five customers that were there on the floor, told them not to move, and shot them all in the head. The last person moved, and he was the only survivor. He lived to tell the tale of the customers who pleaded for their lives with the gunman, offering their cars for him to get away in, if only he’d spare their lives."

"We knew one of the victims. His wife is a lovely woman. They had a 3-year-old and were pregnant with their second child when he died. Since then, I have been involved in advocating for gun control. I have a daughter in high school and a son in college. They shouldn’t have to risk their lives to get an education, or to see a movie or concert," Cortigiani continued.

(Images via Rick Winegar)

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