This Saturday, March 24, everyone is invited to join friends and neighbors speaking out against gun violence. In solidarity with the nationwide event, March For Our Lives in the Keweenaw will begin at noon below the Houghton-Hancock lift bridge on the west side, next to Roy’s near the old Aspirus building.
A poster-making and information event at the Portage Lake District Library was held this past Saturday, March 17. At this event, local high school students, some of whom participated in a walkout last Wednesday, engaged in what event coordinator Erin Burkett called “candid conversations about how gun violence plays a role in our daily lives,” where students and community members discussed what policy changes they hope to see. Houghton High School students, including members of the Equality Club, organized a walkout during which they read the names of the 17 shooting victims killed in Parkland, FL and rang a bell every minute in memory of them.
Houghton High School was one of three local schools that participated in national walkouts, which occurred one month after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. “They said this event was very moving, and I am glad they brought this to our local schools. Seeing high schoolers being politically active is so impressive and energizing,” Burkett said.
When asked about her inspiration for organizing the Keweenaw march, Burkett stated, “The student survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL have inspired me through their strength, their candor, and their political activism.” She shared that when she first learned of the March For Our Lives in Washington D.C., she wanted to attend, but didn’t find it feasible because of time constraints and the cost of traveling. “When I looked for a local march on the March For Our Lives website, I didn’t see any events nearby, so I decided to create one and see if I could find others interested in helping,” she said. The community showed a lot of interest and enthusiasm for a local march, so bringing together a planning group was relatively easy. By emailing friends, connecting with strangers in the community via social media, and talking to community members — especially high school students, who have already taken a great deal of initiative — Burkett was able to rally support for the local march.
For more information about the Keweenaw march, or to connect with others who may be attending, go to www.facebook.com/KeweenawMarchforOurLives.
