On June 2, activists, organizations, and city council members took a stand against gun violence in Chapel Hill’s annual gun violence awareness rally. People gathered in front of the Peace and Justice Plaza to hear speeches from city government members as well as passionate activists.
Karen Stegman is the Mayor Pro Tem for the town of Chapel Hill. On Saturday she advocated for gun safety laws and harsher background checks to make the community a safer place for everyone.
Stegman said, “We honor the victims and survivors of gun violence and offer support to families and communities shattered by gun violence. We bring attention to this crisis for the 327 people who are shot every single day in this country.”
She said she is passionate about this issue because people are regularly dying of gun violence and she believes the state’s government is not acting. At the event the attendees were wearing orange in support of gun violence awareness.
“We have a legislature that cares more about power and funding from the NRA and others over the safety of our residents. And as an elected official, I get that role and I know no matter what else, the health and safety of my community is my number one priority,” Stegman said.
Renuka Soll is a member and volunteer with the organization North Carolinians Against Gun Violence. She’s been involved with the organization for the last five years. At the rally, she handed out brochures about safely storing firearms, gun locks, and fliers for hospital based violence intervention programs.
Renuka Soll hands out fliers, gun locks, and provides information to attendees.
Soll said, “We have two parts to our organization. There’s an education fund and an action fund. So the education fund teaches how to safely store your weapons.”
The education fund also implements programs in the community like teaching children about gun safety. Meanwhile, the action fund focuses on legislation and urging representatives to pass favorable bills on gun laws. Soll explained how she got involved in the organization.
“I had asked about doing a gun buyback program and I have been doing, we call it a gun giveback because we don’t actually give money for the guns, but I’ve done it three times already and I think that got the attention of the organization and they invited me to be part of it,” said Soll.
Elizabeth Hoane attended the rally as a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Safety in America. She is a mom of two and says that shapes her perspective on the matter.
Elizabeth Hoane stands with others in Moms Demand Action Against Gun Violence in America.
Hoane said, “My children are part of the generation that started with active shooter lockdown drills that now is just a way of life that I didn’t have as part of my experience. And I think that kind of like trauma building upon trauma is so unhealthy for our children. And I don’t want my grandchildren to have to go through that.”
Hoane said she and others gathered on Gun Violence Prevention Day to take a stand for the safety of themselves and future generations.
“This is a problem that’s solvable. There’s so much going on in the world today and this isn’t or shouldn’t be a bipartisan, partisan issue. It’s something that we can make progress on and everything we do literally saves lives. And so I’m proud to be part of that,” said Hoane.
After the speech, Chapel Hill ROTC members raised an orange flag, side by side with the American flag in remembrance of those lost to gun violence and to raise awareness of the growing gun violence pandemic in this country. Stegman watched from behind the podium and later shared her thoughts about what the flag represents.
Chapel Hill ROTC raise the orange flag as onlookers watch in solidarity.
Stegman said, “For me, it’s about never forgetting the people who have already been impacted. And, you know, most of us who are involved in this work have a story. We’ve been touched closely by gun violence. And so it’s about honoring those memories, but it’s also about trying to prevent more stories. You know, trying to have action before Chapel Hill has a horrific story and that, that’s what it’s about for me.”
Photo via Gun Prevention Rally
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