Activists Rally Against Gun Violence

Article submitted by Greg Myers, Organizing for Action

Local students rallied against gun violence in Allentown on Saturday.

Isaiah “Izzy” Zukowski of Emmaus spoke of fear and the reminder of his own mortality that he had to face at age 7 as he participated in his school’s  annual training on what to do in the event of a shooting at his elementary school.  

Izzy said he is struck by the fact that our culture has accepted gun violence in  our lives.  

Izzy urged rally attendees to reject this supposed truth, and he pointed out the disconnect between the modern gun debate and our nation’s response to terrorism.  Izzy urged every person in the group to “make our voices heard, and our convictions plain” and demand that U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and lawmakers all over the country do the right thing and expand background checks on gun sales.  

“We’re asking them to separate the common man’s right to bear arms from the criminal’s right to own a semi-automatic weapon.”

CeCe Gerlach spoke of her work at a residential facility for those with emotional/behavioral issues. She said she sees far too many cases of youngsters who have lost a family member or friend to gun violence. 

“Our children live in neighborhoods in which hearing gunshots is commonplace."

CeCe shifted to the personal story her friend's shooting death that she witnessed at age 12. She ended by urging rally attendees to call on Congress to support expanded background checks even if it saves just one more life like her friend’s.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski echoed his support for expanded background checks for gun sales.