By Joshua Daly, Contributing Writer
A lecture on gun violence prevention and the increasing rates of gun violence in the United States within the past years was hosted by three Pennsylvania leaders, including state representative Movita Johnson-Harrell on Oct. 7 in Isaacs Auditorium.
The other two speakers include Marybeth Christiansen, volunteer leader of the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America as well as the executive director of CeaseFirePA, Shira Goodman.
The lecture, titled “Not One More: Power and Persistence in the Movement to End Gun Violence,” also focused on how America’s youth is being harmed and frightened due to gun violence.
Christiansen, Goodman and Johnson-Harrell all spoke about their own experiences with gun violence and the ways they propose the problem can be fixed.
First-year Carrie Schenker and junior Maggi Reedel asked the three advocates about ways that they can make a change in their own hometown and ways to spread to larger communities. The speakers expressed their beliefs on social media accounts and their ability to provoke change, as well as the importance of building relationships and learning other people’s opinions.
The speakers also encouraged young activists to realize what makes them passionate about gun violence prevention and look for people that share this passion. Finding a group that shares similar beliefs makes it easier to progress than working alone.
They also encouraged the audience to not back down and to stand up for their beliefs and to do whatever they can to spark change.
Other tips for advocating for gun violence that the speakers included was knowing the fact and being prepared to invest energy in advocation.
The final question tied the lecture into Susquehanna’s summer reading theme, storytelling. The presenters spoke about how storytelling is useful throughout individual’s lives because it helps build these aforementioned connections that they deem so important.
They also shared how they think storytelling teaches people acceptance, empathy, tolerance and respect.
For individuals to never be afraid to speak up for what they believe in was Christiansen’s, Goodman’s and Johnson-Harrell’s most important point.
Johnson-Harrell serves on Governor Tom Wolf’s Special Council on Gun Violence, where her duties include attending council meetings, engaging in discussions and voting on issues relating to gun violence in Pennsylvania.
