News and Views

By Erik Alsgaard

Hundreds of thousands of people around the world marched in solidarity with a group of high school students who are saying “enough is enough” when it comes to gun violence, especially in schools.

United Methodists joined in the March for Our Lives here and in many of the more than 800 locations on March 24. The marches brought together celebrities and people from all walks of life to send a message to lawmakers that gun laws need to be changed so people are safe.

The rallies were led by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people died in a mass shooting in February.

United Methodists and other faith leaders lent their voices and feet to the cause. Gathering for a prayer service at the United Methodist Building in Washington, just across the street from the United States Capitol building, leaders prayed for a safe march and encouraged people to put their prayers into action.

Bishop LaTrelle Easterling, the episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, offered a prayer before the event and then took off in tennis shoes to join thousands of marchers. Organizers estimated 800,000 marched in Washington, although others put the crowd at 200,000. 

“I’m here because our conference has spoken out already about senseless gun violence and balancing the rights of our citizens with the right everyone has to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” the bishop said in an interview. She said it was time to offer action as well as thoughts and prayers.

The bishop urged United Methodists who couldn’t attend an event near them to register to vote and vote in the next elections.

“We’re not interested in denying individuals their Second Amendment rights,” she said. “But those rights have to be balanced against the right of persons to be safe in their communities and their schools.”

“I’m excited by these young people,” Easterling said, adding that she was ashamed adults “have to stand with them.”

“We (adults) should have been leading this, but we had to wait for them to lift their voice,” she said as she choked back tears.

However, she added, witnessing the young people at this moment in history gives her a sense of hope.

“It’s often the young people who have to rise up,” Easterling said. “I think about those teenagers and young people who sat at the counter during the Civil Rights movement and allowed their bodies to be battered so that change could really take place. I see the same kind of movement happening right now.”

Hannah Beamish, an 11^th grader from Rochester, New York, and a member of Asbury First United Methodist Church there, came with her youth group.

“I’m scared to go to school, and I’m sick of it. I’m so done walking in to a classroom and looking for the place that we would need to go in a lockdown,” Beamish said. “I’m so done with it.”

For Beamish, this was her first involvement in any kind of organized protest. She was going to march in her hometown, but said, “I figured, go big or go home.”

Jeania Ree Moore, the director for Civil and Human Rights at the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, said the denomination’s position on gun violence reflects its position on violence in general.

“We are called to turn our swords in plowshares,” Moore said. “In other words, to lay down our arms and weapons and not to pick them up again.”

Moore said she hoped that people would realize the work doesn’t stop when the rally stops.

“But this day will not solve it; there is needed work on legislation, on community organizing, intervening in violence and putting down the weapons of war,” she said.

The board has a host of resources on gun violence, Moore said, including Bible studies, worship resources, and more.

A large youth contingent from Emory United Methodist Church in Washington, also marched.

“Gun violence has been something that has been consistent for us, especially in the black community,” said the Rev. Joe Daniels, the church’s pastor. “We simply want to be a part of raising awareness and raising this issue of violence and the need to change it.”

Daniels noted change is needed in a number of areas, none more so than police violence against young black males. “This has impacted our community greatly,” he said. “We need a change, not only with laws, but with hearts.”

He said witnessing the leadership of the students from Parkland, and other youth, gives him hope.

“Adults have been arguing about this stuff for years,” he said. “For youth to stand up and say, ‘We gotta get something done,’ is huge. Who’s gonna tell a child ‘no’ when a child is simply trying to fight for justice. No one in their right minds.”

Sharon Milton, the church’s director of youth ministry and a student at Wesley Theological Seminary, said the violence “hurts and breaks my heart. There are children not living to see their 18^th birthday, and it shouldn’t be that way.”

The Rev. Martha E. Vink, who serves the NOW Cooperative Parish in and around Carmel, New York, said she was inspired to come by the young people.

“I feel like they are the spark that is setting us all on fire in a new way,” said Vink, who planned to drive back after the march for Palm Sunday at her church.

“As a person of faith and a follower of Jesus, I have to speak this message of peace. That’s what I’m about; that’s what we’re all supposed to be about. It’s time for us to stand up and say so,” she said.

The Rev. Johnsie Cogman, who serves the oldest African-American congregation in the District of Columbia area, Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Georgetown, brought youth and several members of her confirmation class to the rally.

“Guns have been killing our children left and right. I’m so impressed with how our young people have risen to the occasion. If they can stand up for their rights, I think we can stand up with them,” Cogsman said.

Being in the African-American community, Cogman said, she hears about gun violence all the time. She knows that her kids do, too.

“I think it’s very important for (the youth) to experience this,” she said. “To come together – not just a black/white thing – but it’s an everybody thing, against guns. We’re looking forward to trying to make a change.”

Beth Scott, a member at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, stood on a busy corner across the street from Union Station for several hours, asking passersby if they were registered to vote.

“I support voter registration and having the ability of people to have their voices heard,” she said. Scott was volunteering with Head Count, which in turn was partnering with March for Our Lives.

Scott said it was important to put faith into action.

“Because faith without works is dead. It’s a belief that everyone’s soul is important, and that souls are expressed through action such as marching or registering to vote. We have to continue to do justice, no matter where.”