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Hope sprang Saturday when Jersey Shore teens and young adults drew a crowd of thousands to Asbury Park for their March For Our Lives.

Likened to the crowd the Women’s March Asbury Park drew in January 2017, the local event was held in conjunction with the larger national movement held in more than 800 cities across the nation just 40 days after 14 students and three educators lost their lives during the 6 minute and 34 second long mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz.

Fifteen-year-old Micah Wright said she was proud to represent Asbury Park High School and quickly let the numbers speak for themselves.

“Gun related deaths are now the third leading cause of death for American children,” Wright said. “About 40 percent of child gun deaths are suicides, usually involving a family member’s gun…We respect the 2nd Amendment however we are here to press for stronger laws and policies that will reduce gun violence in America.”

The student led and organized event kicked off on time at noon from Library Square Park and traversed up to and along the Asbury Park Boardwalk before settling in Bradley Park, located across from the iconic Convention Hall.  They held a moment of silence for the victims before marching toward the city’s waterfront.

“As a student, it’s been made more clear, day by day, that the NRA would rather see me dead than see firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” Ilana Gaudette-Dsouza, 17, of Ocean Township High School said. “It’s been made apparent, strikingly apparent to me, that the system is broken, corrupt, contaminated, and that the only thing easier to buy than a gun is a member of the GOP.”

Among the few adult speakers was US Congressman Frank Pallone Jr, who held town hall meeting with students in Asbury Park, Long Branch and Woodbridge, saying he wanted to hear directly from the young, soon to be, constituents.

“You are making a difference,” Pallone told them in speaking to the students’ demands for action. “The energy that is out there is going to carry us to the changes.”

Pallone has been pushing for three legislative changes – correct the loophole that exists in background checks, a ban on assault weapons and the number of allowable rounds of ammunition. He spoke of meeting the Asbury Park High School students in the wake of shooting that killed a 10-year-old boy and wounded his mother when two teens shot at their Ridge Avenue home.  

“Like many of you, I can’t vote,” said Caroline Savage, 17, Communications High School. “But as the past weeks have shown the world, that does not mean that I can’t make a difference. Kids from all over the country are taking a stand to say enough is enough. We’ve had enough of the NRA’s toxic and deadly actions. We’ve had enough of our politicians valuing money over the lives of those they represent. Congress, it’s time that you’re reminded – you work for us…and if you don’t put a stop to the fear and death that plagues our schools – you are fired.”

One of the more poignant addresses came from Tiffany Starr, a north Jersey resident, whose father Stephen was murdered at the age of 42 in their home by her then 17-year-old sister’s enraged ex-boyfriend on Dec. 30, 1994. 

“I’m here to tell you it’s not a life we want for our children,” she said. “I learned that day that this world is not safe. Surviving gun violence is a life-long sentence. My life has become about surviving.”

Led by Minister Sylvia Coleman, the 3 to 16 year old members of Asbury Park Voices choir sang songs of inspiration and spoken word poet Isaiah Johnson of Neptune High School gave a heartfelt address.

“I speak to you today as a 16-year-old member of Generation Z,” Eliyah Tulley from Asbury Park High School told the crowd. “We are engaged, we are focused, and we are goal oriented. Students have ignited a national movement calling for gun control. We will call for change until change happens. This is the time for more than thoughts and prayers, this is a time for action.”

“If this is what our future looks like, there is hope,” said Jennifer Lampert, among one of the four women who organized the January 2017 Women’s March Asbury Park event.

Throughout the event, the crowd responded with chants of “No more,” NRA Get Out Of The Way,” and “Enough is Enough.”

“Mr. Trump we are not scared,” said Ann Hidalgo, 17, of Ocean Township High School. “We will be loud. We will fight for our right because we are the people. I ask you Mr. Trump – what will you do for your people; the hispanics, the Muslims, the African Americans, the dreamers. We all have the right, and we will not stop until the safety of students like me is ensured.”

“If this is the next generation of leaders, it is awesome news,” said Amanda Kane, another Women’s March Asbury Park organizer who attended the event with her young daughter.

Documenting the day’s events was Danny Clinch, a nationally renowned music photographer and video producer who opened his Transparent Gallery inside The Asbury on Fifth Avenue.

“Just from a layman’s point of view, as someone living in America, it just seems obvious that there should be more control over what guns are available to people,” the Toms River native said. “I just want to be here to support the children and honor the kids not only in Florida but all over the country who have been a victim to gun violence.”

“The problem is that we call ourselves Americans but at first we are human beings,” said Joaquin Ahbez-Anderson, a Brookdale Community College student. “How can we as human beings not look at the core and not see what is really wrong. Children are being murdered, not only children but human beings, are being killed. How much more do we have to deal with; how many more sons, daughters, grandchildren need to die.”

The teens edict was not to succumb to fear and to continue the fight.

“I, along with my peers, am pretty good with numbers,” Chloe Raichle, 17, of Biotechnology High School. “Here’s one – 96. That’s not my GPA or the average of my class on that last calculus test. That’s the number of people who die every single day from gun violence. Here’s another number – women are five times more likely to be killed by an abuser if the abuser owns a firearm. There’s a link between domestic abusers and mass shootings; the gunment responsible for the tragedies in Sutherland Springs, Orlando, Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, San Bernardino, all had history of abusing women.”

In the midst of the crowd and the march route were every member of the Asbury Park City Council. Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling [D-11] who has introduced a number of measures to stay gun violence, said it was inspirational to witness the day’s events.

“I think its another high spot for Asbury Park,” Houghtaling said. “For people to come here and make a statement like they have done today and how beautiful they did it. The whole town came together to talk about such a major issue. I am proud to be a part of this history, not only for Asbury Park but for our whole nation.”

https://www.facebook.com/RepFrankPallone/videos/10155758280852732/

 

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