In response to recent incidents of gun violence, Moms Demand Action and Spokane City Council Member Kate Burke have announced they will host a Vigil for Gun Violence on Sunday, Aug. 11.
The vigil will take place at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Tribal Gathering Place at 347 N. Post St., next to City Hall.
This announcement comes at the heels of one of the deadliest weeks for gun violence in recent memory. In the last five days, more than 35 lives have been taken by shootings, with 75 more injured, per the Gun Violence Archive.
The downtown vigil is planned to remember their lives and encourage political action to prevent future such acts of violence, according to a press release. All are welcome to attend, and are encouraged to bring pictures, signs, and memorabilia with them for these purposes.
Moms Demand Action describe themselves online as “a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.” Burke is similarly ardent about expanding upon gun laws that she has described as “lackadaisical” in the past.
The event has numerous other sponsors from organizations around Spokane. Other sponsors include Students Demand Action, Spokane NOW, Raiz of Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho, Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, and Spokane NAACP.
“Holding this vigil is the first step in remembering the lives that were taken. But it is not the final step,” said Burke in a press release.“We must honor those lost by immediately and actively working to prevent future acts of violence using proven solutions—anything less would be disrespectful.”
