Activists Gather To Protest Gun Violence

By BENTE BOUTHIER

More than one hundred people gathered in front of Monroe County Courthouse in Bloomington Friday to recognize Gun Violence Awareness Day.

A local chapter of Moms Demand Action organized the event, which is one of several planned across the country to recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Many participants wore the color orange to the event. It’s symbolic, because orange is the color hunters wear to avoid being shot. 

Moms Demand Action is an anti-gun violence group that was founded in response to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

Margaret Clements was among those who attended. Her sister was shot and killed in Bloomington 26 years ago. She got involved with Moms Demand Action after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. 

“These children in Parkland have inspired me,” she says. That they would speak so eloquently and so courageously and so commandingly about the devastation of gun violence to their lives and to the lives of the community. To me it’s inspiring that I could do more and that I should to more.”

Susan Ellenwood is the spokesperson for Moms Demand Action’s Bloomington chapter. She says the goal of this event is to reach people in the community.

“I think there are a lot of Americans out there who are overwhelmed and frustrated and feel like they don’t have actions to take. This is a place to be able to come together and to raise awareness and to find those avenues for getting involved.”

The event came one week after an Indiana middle school student allegedly shot and injured a classmate and teacher at Noblesville West Middle School.

This is Moms Demand Action’s fourth year congregating in Bloomington for Gun Violence Awareness Day.