Called to respond to gun violence

Author Rose Bish is a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Speedsville, NY.

Author Rose Bish (second from left) organized community members to memorialize the victims of recent gun violence in Uvalde and Buffalo, carrying signs with the victims’ photos and names in the Candor Independence Day parade.

After the Buffalo mass shooting, closely followed by Uvalde, Texas, I felt as though I should be doing something. I told a friend of mine that I felt like I was floating around just on the edge of something, but didn’t know what.

I happened to come across the grassroots organization started by Shannon Watts, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and studied what she had done. A couple of days later, I was reading my “Forward Day by Day” for May 30th FORWARD DAY BY DAY (May 30th) and read this: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9b) I asked my brother, “Can his be a coincidence?” He said, “There are no coincidences.”

I was lucky enough to have the support of friends, family and parishioners in both St. John’s Episcopal Church in Speedsville and St. Mark’s in Candor. I started planning for the annual 4th of July parade in Candor.

After much thought and several iterations, I decided to keep it simple and march solely in honor of and in memory of the victims of Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX. With my husband’s help, I made posters with photos of the 19 children, two teachers, and the husband of the teacher who died after the massacre, and the ten who lost their lives in Buffalo.

It appears that our efforts were well received in the community as I have had many positive comments and thank-yous.

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Comments
  • Joan Smith

    That is so wonderful! Rose is to be praised for stepping out boldly! Thank you!

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