Members of Newtown Action Alliance including Po Murray left and Monte Frank at podium, both of Newtown, and gun control supporters met on the steps of Newtown's Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. They were part of a national action to read names of shooting victims since 12/14/12, coinciding with a threat of filibuster in Washington. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 4/10/13
Yesterday at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown at 1:00, the Newtown Action Alliance began the Filibuster of the Filibuster by reading the names of all 3,346 Americans killed by gun violence since 12/14. While we read in Newtown, coalition groups, including family members of victims, read the same names at the Capitol.
Prior to beginning the Filibuster, Po Murray and I spoke on behalf of Newtown Action Alliance. Here are my comments:
What you are seeing here and in Washington is the Newtown Effect. This is the Connecticut Effect. This is the America Effect.
America won't stand for 14 U.S. Senators getting in the way of what over 90% of Americans want. These 14 Senators are so scared that America might get what it wants that they are trying to prevent a vote. Newtown deserves a vote. Connecticut deserves a vote. America deserves a vote. We will break the filibuster.
As a great nation, we will no longer tolerate the senseless loss of lives, including our children and educators, and we cannot allow towns like mine, and cities like Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Baltimore and D.C. to continue to endure the long-term pain and suffering resulting from these unspeakable tragedies.
Americans deserve to know where our leaders stand.
It needs to be fully transparent who is putting politics aside to get it done and who is putting politics ahead of the safety of our children and our nation. We know Senator McConnell, Senator Cruz and Senator Paul and some of their highly rated NRA colleagues in the Senate value special interests over safety of kids. Any others? Let’s have a vote and find out. The gun safety reforms must be voted on. 20 beautiful children and 6 awesome teachers were murdered in our Town, and you Sen. McConnell want to deny us a vote. Shame on you. You don't speak for America.
My friend Omar's sister and Lori's daughter and their college classmates were murdered in French class at Virginia Tech, and you Senator Paul want to deny them a vote. Shame on you. You don't speak for America.
Our friend Steve Barton was shot in Aurora because he happened to stop to see a movie during his bike trip across this great nation, and our friend Sandy's daughter was killed in that massacre and you Senator Rubio want to deny them a vote. Shame on you. You don't speak for America.
Our friend Reverend Sam Saylor lost his son in Hartford by an illegal gun. And, you Senator Lee want to deny him a vote.
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot and she had the courage to fight on and appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She called on us to be bold. And you Senator Cruz listened to her. Senator Cruz, she represents America. Not you. She deserves a vote. America deserves a vote.
Last week, Connecticut and Maryland passed comprehensive gun safety laws. Showed us how to get it done. We promised that Connecticut would pivot from the General Assembly to the Senate in Washington. Many neighbors whose kids were killed went to DC to demand a vote and action. Rabbi Praver and Rev. Crebbins are there. So too is Rev. Brown and Rev. Saylor from Mothers United in Hartford.
This is the message we are all delivering: Put the politics aside and get it done. Listen to the American people and not the gun lobby. Americans overwhelmingly support universal background checks and a strong trafficking law. Get it done.Get it done for the kids of Newtown.
Get it done for our teachers.
Get it done for our EMTs, police officers and firefighters.
Get it done for the families in Aurora, Virginia Tech, Columbine, and Tucson.
Get it done for the 3,300 people who have died from gun violence starting on 12/14.
Get it done for Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Baltimore, DC, and Oakland.
We deserve a vote
We deserve action
We deserve safer streets
We deserve safer schools
We deserve safer movie theaters
Get it done!
I had the privilege of reading the first 47 names of victims on 12/14 including our names, our children. I struggled to get through it.
Members of Newtown Action Alliance including Po Murray left and Monte Frank at podium, and Noelle D'Agostino all of Newtown, and gun control supporters met on the steps of Newtown's Edmond Town Hall in Newtown. They were part of a national action to read names of shooting victims since 12/14/12, coinciding with a threat of filibuster in Washington. Frank paused to compose himself as he read the Sandy Hook victims names. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register..4/10/13
At the same time, I read in Newtown, our Congresswoman, Elizabeth Esty, read at the Capitol.
The Filibuster continued.
Through rain and lightning and into the night.
Even dogs joined in.
While we read in Newtown, family members of victims, including Omar Samaha and Lori Haas of Virginia Tech, and the Soto family, read at Capitol. Newtown's Reverend Matthew Crebbin also participated in the Filibuster in DC.
The Filibuster continued through the night and by 9:00am, we had only read through the list 2 1/2 times.
All of this just for a vote! Newtown deserves a vote. Virginia Tech deserves a vote. The families of Aurora deserves a vote. Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. America deserves a vote. Get it done!
For more info on the Newtown Action Alliance, visit www.newtownaction.org. You can follow me on twitter at @montefrank1
Here are some TV clips of the Filibuster.
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/...
http://connecticut.news12.com/...
http://www.wtnh.com/...
http://www.wfsb.com/...
http://abclocal.go.com/...
http://landing.newsinc.com/...
http://landing.newsinc.com/...