Summit's #WearOrange Rally Against Gun Violence Draws Large Crowds

SUMMIT, NJ — After the recent spike in mass shootings across the country, hundreds of people gathered at Summit's Village Green for a rally against gun violence on Friday.

In a sea of orange shirts, local community members, politicians, activists and grassroots organizations showed their support by honoring the lives lost to gun violence and rallying to end gun violence.

The event was hosted by Summit Marches On — a group of concerned Summit women who formed the advocacy group after the 2017 Women's March on Washington, D.C., following the election of President Donald Trump.

Speakers from all walks of the gun violence prevention movement, coming from Trenton and Washington D.C., "joined together to dispel the gun lobby's claims that the only solution to gun violence is more guns," according to a press release.

New Jersey is one of three states in the country with the lowest levels of firearm mortality, statistics from the CDC show.

To open the event, Mayor Nora Radest delivered a proclamation deeming June 3 National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the City of Summit.

Acting Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin spoke about actions that Gov. Phil Murphy's administration has taken toward ending gun violence. This includes a three-pronged approach of enforcement, community and hospital-based violence intervention programs and a strong effort to "hold those accountable that are profiting off of the bloodshed in our communities."

Platkin said in 2005 Congress passed a law that gives the gun manufacturing industry broad immunity to prevent them from being sued for the damage that their guns cause. He said in response to that, Gov. Murphy has proposed a law that would allow citizens to hold the gun industry accountable.

In April of 2021, Murphy began a third push for a sweeping package gun safety bills, but none of the bills in the package went anywhere in the Senate.

Now, after the recent mass shootings, Murphy is reigniting his drive for the eight bills in the package — according to the New Jersey Globe — which includes a bill that would allow the attorney general to investigate and obtain injunctions against gun manufacturers and retails who "knowingly or recklessly endanger the public health and safety.”

Senator Joe Cryan, and author of New Jersey’s “ghost gun” bill, also spoke at Friday's rally and detailed the specifics of Murphy's gun package.

He explained that he approaches his job in the state senate with the question, “When the time came, did you do all you could” (to keep constituents safe from gun violence)?" Cryan issued a call to action to attendees to call their elected officials, starting at the town, Assembly and State Senate levels to ask them the same question.

Congressman Tom Malinowski also told the crowd, “I have a position very few Americans have…I’m a member of Congress. My job is not to mourn. My job is not to pray. My job is to ACT.”

He said that many of his colleagues in Congress are focused on the wrong issues, saying, “What threatens our kids is not a librarian with a book but a murderer with a gun.” He emphasized that, to enact gun reform, it is necessary to eliminate the filibuster and hold the House accountable.

Malinowksi recently tweeted a number of gun restriction policies that he is in favor of. View the thread here.

Reverend Vernon Williams of Fountain Baptist Church and President of the Summit Interfaith Council also spoke at the event.

“It’s not a race issue…it’s a societal issue exacerbated by bigotry and hate that doesn’t allow us to open our eyes to our collective humanity,” Williams said.

Logan Johnson, Brady NJ State Executive Council said at the event, “I should be able to go to a gay club with my husband without fear of us both leaving in body bags.”

In addition, Sean Spiller, a science teacher, Mayor of Montclair and president of one of the largest labor unions in the state — New Jersey Education Association — said he asks himself everyday, “Is today the day that I’m going to have to throw my body in front of a shooter in order to save a child under my protection?”

Susan Poage, a Berkeley Heights Councilwoman and "Teacher of the Year," recounted her lockdown experience in the elementary school where she teaches.

“Imagine what it’s like to keep 20 six-year-olds quiet—myself not even knowing what’s going on—as I listen for shots in the hallway,” she said.

Tiffany Starr, a gun violence survivor and Senior Survivor Fellow with Everytown for Gun Safety, spoke about her struggle with post-traumatic stress syndrome following a stalker attack in which her father was shot and murdered.

“There are blinders that are lifted when your life is threatened by a gun, and you will never see the world the same again," Starr said. "At only 15 years young, all I could see were guns everywhere. Images of guns permeate every corner of our society… I could feel them pointed at me, following me everywhere that I went.”

Gun Violence Prevention Chair of the National Council of Jewish Women, Diane Dresdale, said people can show their support for anti-gun legislation by contacting their legislators and texting BRADYNJ to 877-877.

The rally ended with organizer Lacey Cotter Rzeszowski, member of the Brady State Executive Council and co-founder of the host organization, Summit Marches On, asking supporters to commit to canvassing for gun sense champions in the upcoming midterm elections in November.

"Canvassing is the single most effective way to increase voter turnout and affect the outcome of an election," Rzeszowski said. "This November, we need to send a clear message that New Jersey supports enacting these life-saving measures nationwide by electing gun sense champions at the federal level. Here in Congressional District 7, the choice is clear. Congressman Tom Malinowski cares about saving lives and saving families from the trauma that guns inflict."

More information about Summit Marches On can be found on their website.