“An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old shot dead as they prayed at their school church. Fourteen other children and three adults shot and wounded. A school full of children traumatized in ways that will change them, and their families, forever. A community and a country living in even more fear.

“Our hearts break for everyone affected by the horrendous shootings at the Annunciation Catholic School church in Minneapolis yesterday. America’s moms are horrified, terrified, and enraged by the never-ending shootings taking place day in and day out across our country. We know the pervasiveness of guns and gun violence is taking away our freedom to learn, worship, play, shop, and simply live in our communities without fear – and we don’t want to live this way. We don’t want to be gripped with terror each time we send our children to school, take them to shop or see a movie, or send them to a church, synagogue or mosque.

“Yet the lawmakers whose job is to improve our health, safety and lives, have rejected the sensible gun control measures that have overwhelming bipartisan voter support because they would help keep us safe. President Trump is busy admiring the troops and tanks he brought to tourist sites in Washington DC and threatening to do the same in other large cities, while he and his Republican leaders ignore the gun violence that poses a very real, very grave, ever-present threat to our health and freedom to live in safety without fear. America’s moms are fed up. We want meaningful change through sensible national gun reform measures, including universal background checks, a ban on military-style assault weapons and high capacity magazines, and access to extreme risk protection orders, now.”

Statement of Jennifer Bertram, MomsRising member and mom of two in Minneapolis:

“I drive past Annunciation Church and School frequently - they are about a mile from my home. Yesterday on my way home, I was redirected by police with the nearby roads blockaded in the aftermath of the horrific act of violence that took place during morning mass. The neighborhood of Southwest Minneapolis that I've called home for almost 20 years – where I have raised my children – came together yesterday to tie blue and green ribbons around neighborhood trees, organize two vigils in nearby spaces, and give people a chance to grieve and show support for their neighbors.

“But I can't help but keep asking why this keeps happening? Ribbons and prayers are not an adequate response to these ongoing tragedies. What is it going to take to keep our children safe from violence in their schools, places of worship, and playgrounds? It is my responsibility as a mom to engage with elected officials, community leaders, other families, and businesses to make change that will prevent any more children from dying. So I'll tie a ribbon on my tree, grieve along with my neighbors, and advocate for necessary changes to improve gun control. No more children need to die before we take serious action.”