June 4, 2018

Mayor Bhalla to Proclaim Gun Violence Awareness Day in Hoboken Alongside Senator Menendez

Hoboken, NJ - Friday, June 1st, 2018

Hoboken Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla will declare June 1 “Gun Violence Awareness Day” in Hoboken on Friday, June 1, 2018 at 4 p.m. at City Hall, as part of a National Gun Violence Awareness Day event organized by the Hudson County Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. Senator Bob Menendez will also attend and speak at the event.

“I’m honored to lend my voice to such an important issue,” said Bhalla. “It’s our duty to do everything within our power to protect our children and residents from gun violence. New Jersey is taking steps in the right direction, but with how easily guns cross state lines, we have to keep up the pressure on Congress to enact sweeping reforms. I’m proud New Jersey’s Senators are on the right side of this issue, but we must keep up the fight against the gun lobby.”

Following his proclamation, Mayor Bhalla will introduce Senator Menendez.

“To the students here today, I hear you loud and clear,” said Sen. Bob Menendez.  “You are tired of practicing active shooter drills; tired of hearing that gun violence is just a fact of life; tired of seeing the NRA make the decisions in Washington about guns and our safety. And as your Senator, I know you deserve better. That means passing common sense gun laws that will keep weapons of war off our streets and guns out of the hands of children, criminals and others with mental illness. We need to keep up the fight, keep marching, organizing, speaking out – and voting – until we have a Congress that will stand up to the NRA and take action.”

The program is as follows:

  • Welcome: Emily Jabbour, Hudson County Chapter Leader, Moms Demand Action
  • Opening Prayer: Reverend Elaine Thomas (All Saints Episcopal Parish)
  • Opening Remarks: Emily Jabbour
  • Presentation of Proclamation and Remarks: Mayor Bhalla
  • Introduction of Senator Menendez: Mayor Bhalla
  • Remarks from Senator Menendez
  • Introduction of Survivor Speakers: Emily Jabbour
  • Survivor Stories from Kristina Filler (Hold Your Fire initiatve), Nora Martinez DeBenedetto, and Rey Sambal (student)
  • Students Demand Action of Hudson County: Frances Michaels and Jai Patel
  • Presentation of Proclamation from Jersey City: JC Councilman James Solomon
  • Closing Call to Action: Emily Jabbour
  • March on June 2 across the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Moms Demand Action Meeting @ Hoboken Multi Service Center June 14 at 7pm
  • Students Demand Action meeting @ City Hall in Jersey City on June 14 at 4pm

This event is one of a series of similar events held in Hoboken in 2018, including the March 14 National School Walkout, the March for Our Lives held March 24, and a remembrance event on April 20, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine Massacre.