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Tampa Bay Against Gun Violence Vigil

So many shootings recently. Organizers hosted a vigil at a nearby park. I just got home from it.

PCTA/PESPA/FEA Represents #UnionStrong

I sit here feeling tears wanting to build up enough momentum to fall. Not yet…

The vigil started with Jewish prayers and a count. A count of the dead and wounded of each shooting back to the beginning of the year. The count went on quite a long time. The Rabbi gave the total count of dead and wounded, but I forget now. It’s hundreds. Just since January 1.

Christian and Islamic prayers followed. With a call to action. A call against white supremacy and complacency. A call to act. Not just go home feeling like you did a good thing by attending the vigil.

A number of local politicians got up to speak. They too had powerful words to share. Words against racism and hate. Words encouraging people to act. I’m glad they are bringing up race and religion and gender. It’s incredibly relevant.

I come back to writing this blog post. I decided to act right then, at the end of that last paragraph. I wrote a postcard to each of my representatives, both at the national and state levels.

Will my written voice be enough to give critical mass to the message? Will enough people join me in outrage, sadness, fear, and hope to finally create enough energy to make our politicians enact policy that benefits the masses?

There are a lot of good people fighting this battle, but the NRA is plugging too many politicians’ ears with dollar bills. (Thousand dollar bills.) Can we collectively speak loudly enough to be heard anyway?

My heart wants so badly to say, “Yes.”

But before I do, I’ll ask, “Are you doing things too?” Because with voter turnouts what they are, it’s a reasonable question. Are you at least voting for people who align with your values?

Things won’t change until we hold our elected officials accountable, both by voting and while they are in office. If you don’t already, please reach out to your representatives. Google will help you find them at all levels.

And for gods’ sake, please vote these greedy, racist, sexist mother fuckers out.