Sep 22

Sep 22 The Green Tapestry

Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

“He sang a song as on he rode his guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town, a smile upon his lips
He stopped, and walked into a bar, and laid his money down

But his mother’s words echoed again
Don’t take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don’t take your guns to town
”

— Johnny Cash, Don't Take Your Guns to Town, from The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1958)

Today, between 50 and 75 Highland Park residents made their second journey to the United States Capitol since the July 4th mass shooting that devastated their community. On the first journey, the color du jour was orange. This time, many participants were clad in mint-green tee-shirts, but they were still demanding an assault-weapons ban.

The rally’s organizers brought together survivors from Buffalo, New York (Tops Friendly Market); Littleton, Colorado (Columbine High School); Dayton, Ohio (outside of Ned Peppers Bar); Newtown, Connecticut (Sandy Hook Elementary School); Orlando, Florida (Pulse Nightclub); Oxford, Michigan (Oxford High School); Parkland, Florida (Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School); and Uvalde, Texas (Robb Elementary School). That is quite the list.

Also on hand were Kris Brown, the President of Brady, the organization formed by Jim and Sarah Brady in the wake of the assassination attempt by John Hinckley, Jr. on President Ronald Reagan; Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy, who has been engaged in the battle for restrictions on assault weapons since the Sandy Hook massacre; and Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline.

The gathering took place just to the north of the United States Capitol, in a park-like setting whose still-green canopy formed a makeshift umbrella, protecting the participants from the rain that fell shortly before the speeches began. The assembly was considerably smaller than the July 13th one, raising an obvious question: Is the Highland Park effort sustainable, particularly as ever more time separates the present from the July 4th tragedy that left seven people dead and 48 others wounded?

In total, no more than 100 to 125 people were present, including a camera crew from ABC News and Lynn Sweet from the Chicago Sun-Times. One person—likely an ABC News producer—told me that while the footage could end up on the World News Tonight with David Muir, the crew was present because ABC News is working on a longer-term project, presumably pertaining to gun violence.

As regular readers know, I have strong views on whether demonstrations should take place. This one shouldn’t have, and that is not to disparage the organizers, those who attended, or those who spoke. As a general rule, small rallies and demonstrations are counter-productive when it comes to motivating elected officials. Does anyone think that Republican members of the House or Senate changed their positions on an assault-weapons ban as a consequence of this rally? I suspect the vast majority were unaware that the rally even took place.

Unless a group can put several thousand people in the “streets,” the effort is largely meaningless, particularly when the issue is regularly debated and a highly visible one, as is the case with gun control and abortion rights. The organizers could have much more effectively made their case by organizing a larger rally in downtown Highland Park, although that community may not be emotionally ready for a mass demonstration. The organizers, however, should consider such a rally for next spring, with the goal of turning out thousands of demonstrators, as well as the media.

I do concede that a small gathering can serve other purposes—building a network of activists, energizing participants for further action, and providing catharsis. But those benefits are largely inwardly directed. For the rest of the world, lackluster attendance suggests that people are not as passionate about the issue as the organizers hope or believe.

The speakers were once again riveting as they told stories of personal horror through sometimes tear-filled eyes. I was most struck by the six or seven now-teenagers who had survived the December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. One young woman wrote a speech, but could not deliver it, so she asked a friend to do so. The speech was fine, but just the mere presence of those teenagers spoke volumes. Kindergarteners and grade schoolers do grow up (if they survive a mass shooting). Many of those present must have wondered how 20-year-old Adam Lanza changed the lives of those kids; how they live with the experience on a daily basis; and whether there is ever a day that they don’t think about it. What sort of childhood did they have following that day?

I have mixed feelings regarding the parents and other survivors who spoke during the 90-minute rally. Obviously, I feel great sympathy toward them. They have become prisoners of circumstances that were not of their making and well beyond their control Have other survivors moved on with their lives rather than dwelling on a past that can’t be changed? Could I just move on if I found myself in similar circumstances? Wouldn’t I want to at least salvage something from the tragedy, using my raw emotions as a catalyst for change? Will succeeding reduce the pain that comes with the loss of a relative or a friend, or bring the desired closure? Who knows? I certainly don’t envy them.

Senator Christopher Murphy and Kris Brown, the president of Brady, made the two most memorable speeches. Murphy, who is both articulate and passionate, repeated a comment made by one of his colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Republicans used to worry about the NRA only when faced with a vote on gun control legislation. When asked to vote recently, this particular Republican, as well as others, were upset because they now found themselves in a no-win situation. If they voted in favor of more regulation, the NRA would be angry with them, but if they voted against it, their constituents would be unhappy with them. Murphy took this to mean that the many recent massacres are energizing public opinion in favor of an assault weapons ban, increasing the likelihood of meaningful legislative action.

Brown’s comment was more poignant. She talked about all the friends she has made in her position as the president of Brady, many of whom are survivors of gun violence. She then said she wished she had never made friends with any of them given the reason for their first meeting.

The rally broke up shortly after the speeches concluded. One simple question lingered: What next? Kitty Brandner, the lead organizer, has done an excellent job of promoting the group’s efforts through almost daily Instagram posts, meetings with legislators and members of the Biden Administration, and campaigns to convince elected officials to vote for an assault weapons ban.

She and her colleagues, however, are now faced with cold weather, making it more difficult to convince people to rally or march. How will Brandner and her colleagues move the ball forward? I continue to check the group’s Instagram posts daily, so I will see, but they need to think carefully about their next moves. Today’s rally had a cookie-cutter aspect to it, which does not bode well for widespread engagement. Tears will take this effort only so far; when relied on too often, their power becomes diluted.

Before concluding, i want to raise one final question: Where were the March for Our Lives folks? Early this summer, I covered a March for Our Lives rally in Chicago’s Federal Plaza. Despite an active Illinois chapter, the organization had no presence at today’s rally. The last thing those advocating reasonable gun control need is a balkanized effort. If the Highland Park organizers have not reached out to the Illinois March for Our Lives chapter, they should do so before the next major event. And where were Beto O’Rourke and David Hogg today? Shouldn’t they have been on Capitol Hill with everyone representing Highland Park and the victims of other mass shootings?

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It]