Statement from Protest on March 8:
Today, we come together as a community for something vitally important. We are standing up against something that should never happen in our town—school board candidates, those who claim to want the best for our kids, hosting a campaign event at a gun shop. This isn’t just a campaign stop; it’s a dangerous signal of what kind of priorities these candidates hold. And we are here to say NO.
Our children deserve better. Schools should be safe havens—places where they can learn, grow, and feel secure. But instead of standing up for their safety, these candidates are choosing to align themselves with symbols of violence that threaten the very future of our children. Let’s be clear: gun violence is the leading cause of death among American children and teens. And yet, these candidates think it’s appropriate to hold a meet-and-greet in a gun shop.
We cannot, and will not, accept this.
As school shootings continue to rise across the country, when parents and teachers find themselves worrying more about safety drills than classroom lessons, this is where they’ve chosen to gather. Think about that for a moment: a campaign for the future of our schools, being held in a gun shop. How disconnected can you be from what really matters in education? These candidates talk about representing our schools, but they are more interested in standing with guns than standing for the safety of our children.
We are here to send a message—we will not be silent. We will not let this go unnoticed. The lives and futures of our children are on the line, and it is up to us—the real community, the real leaders—to stand up and say, ‘This is not okay.’
We need school board leaders who will fight for safer schools, leaders who will advocate for gun control policies that keep weapons out of our classrooms, and leaders who understand that education is not built on fear and intimidation. It is built on safety, support, and care for our students. These candidates have shown that their priorities are misaligned with the real needs of our children and our schools.
We are here today because our kids deserve better. They deserve school board leaders who make decisions with safety, respect, and responsibility in mind. They deserve better than candidates who align themselves with symbols of violence.
Thank you for standing with us, for fighting for our children, and for making your voice heard. Together, we will make sure that our community stands for peace, education, and a safer future for all of our kids.
This is a fight we cannot afford to lose, and together, we will ensure that our children’s safety is put above all else.