Sally and the Million Mom March

Sally went to the Million Mom March for Gun Control.

Mother’s Day, May 14^th, 2000.

She drove a little blue Chevy S-10 truck from Rochester, NY to Washington, D.C.

Supporters of the march expected an estimated attendance of 750,000 people at the

D.C. location with 150,000 to 200,000 people holding sympathy marches in separate

locations across the country.

Sally stayed at The Monarch Hotel which is hard to find at night and in the rain.  It is also rather swanky.

Speakers were to include:  Rosie O'Donnell, Courtney Love, Susan Sarandon, Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, Senator Dick Durbin, Representative Carolyn McCarthy, writer Anna Quindlen, Surgeon General Antonia Novello, Victims, ER Doctors, Faith Leaders, Veterans, and Moms.

The day before the event Sally walked to the Mall to get the lay of the land.  It was vacant ad hot.  Sally saw crowd control fencing.  That was it.  Sally want to the National Portrait gallery.

They were there to speak against the pervading gun violence in our communities and the shortcomings of our gun laws that allow dangerous people to easily acquire dangerous guns.

Sally thought she was going to have heat stroke walking back and was very scared she would die there.

On the big day, Rosie spoke out against the NRA and the powerful gun lobby.  She said they were concerned about money and everyone at the march was concerned about the lives of citizens.

Sally was most impressed by how many moms (and daughters) came together in groups.  They looked like grown up hippies.  Hadn’t Sally done all this before?

The Million (750,000 plus 150,000-200,000 in other locations) Moms were for:  extensive background checks, licensing and registering guns, child safety locks for all guns, limiting the number of guns purchased per month, no-nonsense enforcement of laws and enlisting help from corporate America.

Sally was also awestruck by the press pool.  They were ensconced in an elaborately staged platform – right up front.  Sally could not stop watching them.

It was argued later that the whole thing was a media event encouraged behind the scenes by Hillary and Bill Clinton.

That is really all Sally remembered…

besides how comfortable the truck seats were.