National School Walkout and the March for Our Lives
On the morning of March 14, 2018, the New York Yearly Meeting office will be closed during the National School Walkout. Yearly Meeting staff will be walking out in support of Friends Seminary middle and upper school students, faculty and administrators. Mary Eagleson, clerk of the Witness Coordinating Committee has asked us to share this information with Friends, so that they may support and participate with students and schools in their communities, as they are led.
What is the National School Walkout? – For 17 minutes at 10 a.m. across each time zone on March 14, students, school faculty and supporters around the world will walk out of their schools to honor those killed in the massacre at the Parkland high school earlier this year and to protest gun violence. Those participating are encouraged to wear orange – the color used by many who support gun control.
In addition, Quakers in the Washington DC area have sent this information for NYYM Friends.
March for Our Lives – Washington, DC – March 24, 2018
On March 24, the kids and families of March for Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington DC to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.
The following local Friends organizations are working to provide support for this event:
Friends Meeting of Washington – Friends Meeting of Washington is offering hospitality for the weekend. The Meeting has room for up to 70 individuals for floor space, bathrooms (without showers), breakfast and snacks, and friendship. Anyone who wishes to stay here may sign up here.
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Friends Committee on National Legislation – wishes to hold and support Friends and friends who will be at the rally. We plan to hold the Quaker Welcome Center for Friends to connect with the latest legislative updates regarding gun violence, and witness with Friends in a prayerful manner. For those who visit, we will share and introduce Friends to our advocacy tools and offer 15-minute stand-up lobby tips.
FCNL Event details: March 24th 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
8 am: Doors open. Enter the Quaker Welcome Center through the FCNL side patio (245 2nd Street NE)
8:30 am-9:00 am Meeting for Worship
9-9:30 am Join FCNL Legislative Director of Domestic Policy Amelia Kegan and Friends to hear stories and next steps after the march
Friends are also invited to hold the space in prayer: 10 am, noon, 2 pm.
William Penn House – is proud to support the March for Our Lives, and their own young interns, by opening their doors as a comfort station, offering water, coffee and tea and our 100-year-old bathrooms to participants in the march to end school shootings and promote reasonable gun regulation.
Date and Time: Saturday, March 24 8am-12pm/4pm-8pm**
Location: William Penn House, 515 E Capitol St SE Washington DC 20003
**Volunteers Needed! – William Penn House needs your good hands and hearts during and after the march to help support this cause. Any amount of time that you can donate will help, please let us know if you are able to volunteer during any portion of the times listed below. Even one or two hours is a big help! Currently the march is scheduled to begin at 10am, so these times are geared toward serving the inbound and outbound rushes. In order to help as much and as many as possible, the comfort station schedule may change as March 24 approaches; we will let volunteers know as quickly as possible if there are any changes to the hours.
