Just completed the second annual Walk it Out for Journey 2 Healing Hearts.
J2HH is a young local organization, less that 18 months, and is organized for victims of gun violence. We met at a local Walmart parking lot for organization. Moms Demand Action was there initially to provide moral support (that's why I was there) but had to pull out because a gun nut inserted himself into the activity.
Don't know how this guy found out about the walk but he contacted the organizers and said he wanted to support the effort and to talk about gun safety.
So there are two tables with literature, donuts and such; one for J2HH and one for MDA. Then this guy shows up with a card table and sticks signs in the ground advertising his Concealed Carry Classes. He's got literature about the classes and says he was invited. Now there are survivors of gun violence in attendance and they are upset to the point of having an emotional breakdown. I walk over and talk to the guy and he says he was invited and only wants to talk about gun safety. I tell him that we have survivors here and that his signs are causing them distress and he shouldn't be advertising his gun business.
MDA talks to the J2HH organizer and learns that this guy isn't someone they know but said he wanted to offer support. When they actually talk to the idiot they find out he's trying to solicit students for this CC class and ask him to leave which he does politely and quietly. It's too late for MDA to stay because the state level said they had to leave because of the unrecognized gun organization's activities. MDA officially left but the members turned their T shirts inside out and walked the walk in solidarity for J2HH.
There were about 70 people present to participate with signs that had pictures of lost loved ones, ENACT COMMON SENSE GUN LAWS, FAMILIES AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE etc. We walked with our placards about a mile down one of the busiest streets in Arlington, TX and then back up the other side of the the street back to the organizing point at Walmart. About a fifth of the traffic supported us with horn honks and waves. There was the occasional asshole but they were few.
After the walk J2HH opened the microphone to, for the lack of a better word, testify about their loss. I couldn't handle that, so I picked up a sign and stood by the street showing it to passing traffic. It said FAMILIES AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE. Traffic backed up and some bimbos in an SUV rolled the window down and told us how dumb we were doing this and guns were good. I just had to open my mouth and say, "So, you're in favor of more gun violence?" and the woman next to me (lost her grandson) held up her sign and said, "See this child? It could by yours." The window rolled up and they stared straight ahead until traffic moved on.
For the most part it was an uplifting and satisfying experience. Except for the CCW instructor trying to make money off these people's grief.
That's why we can't have nice things. Gun nuts fuck it up for everybody.
Pictures to follow.