by S. Rotan Hale
Members of the Blue Ridge Coalition Against Gun Violence (BRCAGV) staged a sit-in Thursday, June 30 at the office of Congressman Bob Goodlatte in downtown.
The crowd of approximately 50 demonstrators, some holding posters while chanting “Do your job Bob,” called for action regarding anti-gun legislation reportedly held in limbo by Goodlatte, who as House Speaker refuses to act.
“Bob Goodlatte stops all gun bills from even getting a vote and we are frustrated with his complete inaction and unwillingness to do anything about the availability of guns for terrorist, guns for domestic abusers and guns for people who have been violent in the past,” said Katherine Koebel, a volunteer with BRCAGV who was a major organizer for the protest.
“I’d like to tell Bob Goodlatte that it is time for a vote, you pledged allegiance to America and 90% of Americans support these bills,” she said. “Goodlatte doesn’t represent the majority, he represents the NRA.”
Some of the demonstrators sat with images of victims of gun violence as slain WDBJ reporters Alison Parker and Adam Ward, gunned down during an on-air attack (2015) by a former co-worker.
At one point during the protest, Koebel called off names of various local victims of gun violence, many of which were featured on makeshift posters and pictures displayed.
Another protester, Teresa Gill-Walker sat with a photo of a victim simply known as “Twin” who was “murdered by being in the wrong place at the wrong time while trying to protect his cousin and stop a fight.”
When “Twin” was murdered Walker and others held a memorial and gun violence awareness event in Washington Park at which time she met several BRCAGV members who attended and as a result, she joined their cause.
“We have become family through our struggle to make the world a better place,” she said pointing to others who sat with their own displays and stories that serve as their collective bond.
Walker is also affiliated with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America (MDA), a national organization similar to Moms Against Drunk Driving (MAD).
MDA is an advocacy group established to push for common sense gun control laws. It was founded in 2012 after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that took the lives of 27 children and adults and is the deadliest mass shooting at a grade school or high school in US history.
“People in other countries look at us as barbarians and the country where citizens carry guns,” Walker said in disgust.
Koebel however, is one of many who has personal ties to the issue of gun violence. Her father retired from Virginia Tech and she spoke briefly of calling him on that fateful day of the infamous Tech massacre (April 2007) that left 32 students and teachers dead.
“I called him and he picked up immediately but the thing is, there were 32 other cell phones ringing and ringing that never answered while the body bags were being zipped up.”
Koebel’s eyes lit up with a special glow as she mentioned activist Britany Newsome as being a major source of inspiration to her.
“If I could have just 1/32th of her strength of character and courage… she’s just awesome.”
On June 27, 2015, Newsome climbed a 30 ft. pole on the South Carolina State Capitol grounds to remove the Confederate battle flag in a bold act of defiance against racist symbols of White supremacy.
Her acts which resulted from the Emanuel AME Church mass killing (June 2015) leaving 9 dead, were praised by justice advocates world-wide.
Koebel also mentioned civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis who set the tone for the local sit-in and made headlines and history (June 24) with his own anti-gun sit-in at the U.S. House of Representatives.
“I’m out here to show my support for all the families that have been affected by gun violence,” said Grover Price, a community activist who has launched several positive initiatives in northwest Roanoke.
“There have been 27 shootings in the area just this year, now its time to do something different.”
Positioned beside Price was a photo of Aryah Lipford whose story was very familiar to him. Aryah was fatally shot by her father July 2015 just days before her second birthday. Her mother, Rachael Quesenberry was also shot but survived.
“Legislators and those in authority are ready to prosecute for these crimes rather than prevent them,” Price said calmly with a voice of reason that seemed to capture the group’s theme.
