Norton to Speak at March Sabbath to Prevent Gun Violence, Today at National Cathedral

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will speak at the March Sabbath to Prevent Gun Violence press conference today at 3:45 p.m., on the West Lawn of the Washington National Cathedral, to encourage clergy and laypeople of all faiths across the country to speak out against gun violence. On the West Lawn, t-shirts honoring the 103 D.C. residents killed last year in the city will be on display. Norton will be joined by gun safety advocates, including Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious representatives. Attendees will also include first responders and families of homicide victims. Following the press conference, a group of interfaith clergy will bless all the first responders who have assembled.

“As we gather with religious leaders, we will not only thank our first responders and mourn the D.C. residents who lost their lives to gun violence last year and the more than 30,000 lives lost each year to gun violence, we also gather to commit ourselves to take proactive steps to rid our city and our nation of gun violence,” said Norton. “The victims must inspire us in the Congress to continue to be undaunted and work to pass gun safety laws and legislation to expand mental health treatment and background checks to prevent those who are more likely to commit gun violence from having guns, and to take the necessary action the people overwhelmingly have said is needed.”

Norton, a long-time advocate for gun safety measures, last December, for the one-year anniversary of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, spoke at a National Cathedral vigil in remembrance of the tragic shooting and of all victims of gun violence throughout the country.

Published: March 13, 2014