News
National Walkout Day Protesters Converge on NRA Headquarters
Sun Kim, protested in downtown Sacramento at the NRA headquarters.
By Sun Kim | California Black Media
Protesters of all backgrounds converged on the Sacramento headquarters of the National Rifle Association, as a culminating event to cap off regional demonstrations against gun violence. The protests were in response to the recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that took the lives of 17 individuals.
The rally was organized by Women’s March’s Sacrament youth program. Event speakers included Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, who represents the 7th Assembly District, Dr. Mariama Smith Gray from California State University, Easy Bay, and Rebecca Gonzales of the National Association of Social Workers.
Protesters spoke passionately about the need to curb gun violence and about the need for more responsible media portrayals of gun ownership.
“Students of color have been wrongly associated with violence and aggression,” said Gray. “And yet we need to consider the demographics of the school shooter because we also need to pay attention to what is happening to white adolescent boys who have access to guns.”
Her speech at the rally visibly touched many mothers in the audience.
Hiram Johnson High School in Sacramento Unified School District participated in the walkout by allowing students to use the walkout “as an opportunity to be given a voice; to empower the students,” according to Barbara Tigert, who teaches English at the high school.
Presenters were mindful to tell youth protestors that once the allotted 17-minute protest time given by school districts had passed, that they were expected to return to their schools if they had opted to participate the walk out.
“We need to broaden the people who are active on this issue because gun violence effects all communities, but especially communities of color,” said Gonzales who serves a government affairs director for the National Association of Social Workers and is the co-chair of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
“Hollywood and our culture for too long have romanticized violence and the use of guns. It must stop but it will only happen if consumers reject this form of ‘entertainment.”
Both Dr. Gray and Mrs. Gonzales were visibly ecstatic from seeing high school students taking initiative to tackle gun violence.
All speakers encouraged the audience members to get involved with the political process any way can from calling, emailing, tweeting, and writing members of Congress, Senators, and/or State Representatives.
As of press time, the National Rifle Association has not returned requests for comment.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024
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California Black Media
Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather
In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
By California Black Media
In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.
The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.
“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.
The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.
Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”
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