Million Mom March Westchester Chapter

After spending 10 years living in London – a place where the police do not carry guns – I returned to New York City and through a friend, was introduced to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and participated in a number of their fund raisers. Through Brady, I met Donna Dees Thomases, founder of the Million Mom March (MMM), which took place on Mother’s Day 2000 to promote tighter restrictions on guns.  

About 24 hours after watching the devastating news reports of the horrific murders of 20 first graders about 20 miles from my home in Katonah, in a very similar community, I decided to stop crying and try to do something.

I reached out to Donna and asked her how I could start or join a Northern Westchester chapter of Million Mom March. She replied by saying I was the new leader of their Northern Westchester chapter!

My next question to Donna was whether it was open to everyone despite the “Mom” part of the name. She said yes, that it is "only limited to like-minded people" and that the word "Mom" scares politicians because they know women can organize!

My first connection to other like-minded parents came through the Katonah Parents Facebook page – where people had begun posting about what we, as a community could do for improved security at our own schools. So that is where I began, by telling the other members that I was starting this group and I immediately got people volunteering to join.

On Sunday, I set up two Facebook pages – one that is a closed group and currently consists mostly of Katonah parents, but it is open to everyone in Westchester, and a public page for Million Mom March Northern Westchester Chapter. The link for the public page is: www.facebook.com/mmmnw and the link for the group, where people can request to join us, is https://www.facebook.com/groups/473986759313799/ 

We have 40 members already.

Million Mom March works with the Brady Campaign, a nationwide network of grassroots volunteers who work for sensible guns laws to protect you, your family, and your community.

I am currently trying to help spread the word about a Million Child March on Dec on Feb 17 being organised by another New York parent and to find out how our group can assist Brady and MMM. I have signed their pledge to march, which can be found at www.kidsmarch.org  

Million Child March also has a public Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/1millionkidstoDC

I’m currently trying to reach out to our new Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney. Please visit our page, like it, share it, and join it!