Gun Violence Survivors, Gun Safety Advocates, Faith Leaders, and Elected Officials to Rally at the Capitol in Support of the Protect Illinois Communities Act
January 5, 2023
SPRINGFIELD, IL - Today, gun violence survivors, gun safety advocates, faith leaders, and elected officials from across the state came together at the State Capitol in Springfield to urge legislators to vote yes on the Protect Illinois Communities Act to pass bans on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and require assault weapons to be certified to reduce gun violence. More than 100 people attended to make their voices heard in support of passing the legislation during lame duck session.
“I am humbled to stand alongside such a diverse coalition of advocates today to call for gun safety legislation to implement bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” said Representative Barbara Hernandez. “Gun violence is a senseless tragedy that we do not have to accept as our reality. I call upon my colleagues to take the words they hear today to heart and make the right decision by voting yes on the Protect Illinois Communities Act.”
At the rally, Senator Ram Villivalam, Representative Barbara Hernandez, Representative Bob Morgan, Representative Justin Slaughter, gun violence survivor Mary Dieudonne-Hill of the Everytown Survivor Network, Lyric Harris of B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leaders, gun violence survivor Maria Pike of Chicago Survivors Board of Directors and city gun violence chapter lead for Moms Demand Action, March for Our Lives organizer Rachel Jacoby, founder of Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence Stuart Reid, Rabbi Reni Dickman, Executive Vice President of the Chicago Board of Rabbis, Pastor T. Ray McJunkins of Union Baptist Church in Springfield, incoming state chapter lead for Moms Demand Action Pastor Brenda Mitchell, and Moms Demand Action leader Caryn Fliegler spoke about the importance of passing bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines during lame duck session.
“Weapons of war have no place on our streets, and it’s long past time that our legislators take action to save lives,” said Pastor T. Ray McJunkins of Union Baptist Church in Springfield. “I’m proud to stand with advocates from across the state to make our voices heard in support of the Protect Illinois Communities Act. We shouldn’t let another day go by without passing this critical legislation.”
Representatives from Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, Everytown Survivor Network, People for a Safer Society, Illinois Alliance to Prevent Gun Violence, Parents for Peace and Justice, Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, March for Our Lives, Amnesty International, Purpose Over Pain, and other organizations were also in attendance.
Earlier this week, more than 350 doctors signed a letter calling on legislators to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act, calling it “a public health crisis.” More than 75 faith leaders of different denominations signed an additional letter calling for the legislation’s passage. In the letter, they write, “While we may practice different faiths, we are united in keeping our communities free and safe from weapons of war that have no place in our schools, houses of worship, movie theaters, playgrounds, or streets.” Protect Illinois Communities also began airing a new television ad, ‘Take a Stand,’ in several markets across the state calling on legislators to pass the Protect Illinois Communities Act during lame duck session.
