Recently, many people have heard of (or participated in) the Global Climate Strike, a large-scale movement that encourages mainly young people to “walk out” of school to protest the harmful effects of climate change. Students are raising their voices to demand action against a variety of catastrophic problems. But what you may not know is that moms all across the US are also doing their part and taking action against problems like gun control and climate change. These moms have banded together and formed large organizations to advocate for stricter gun laws and a transition towards environmentally friendly, renewable energy.
Mothers Out Front: Mobilizing For a Livable Climate is a large organization of moms who are advocating for an effective and quick solution to switch from burning fossil fuels to clean sustainable energy in order to preserve a livable environment for their children. There are many different ways by which members can get involved in this countrywide activist organization. Chapters are located in every state, and they even have their own in Tompkins County. Members can take action, volunteer, or deliver seminars/workshops to aid this cause. On June 10, Tompkins County secured a big victory in reducing gas plant emissions. Additionally, in response to the Mothers Out Front’s activism, the Dryden Town Board will upgrade the natural gas facility in Ellis Hollow, substantially reducing plant emissions.
Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, which was founded in 2012, is a “grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.” Shannon Watts founded the organization after the devastating Sandy Hook school shooting. Although the movement first started as a Facebook group, these online messages have grown to six million dedicated supporters. Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state and has more than 350,000 donors contributing to the cause. Hard-working volunteers have ensured that gun hazardous laws are repealed and are influencing the creation of many new gun violence prevention laws, including the Nevada SB143 law, which requires background checks on all gun sales, and bipartisan legislation that will reduce illegal gun trafficking. Various events are hosted by Moms Demand Action to take action against gun violence.
To learn more about mom-led activism, I spoke to Karla Hanson, a member of Moms Demand Action. (Moms Demand Action, a branch of Everytown for Gun Safety, formed in Tompkins County two years ago.) As a mom of two Ithaca High School alumnae and a faculty member at Cornell University, Hanson has a close connection to Ithaca. She began working with Everytown for Gun Safety, spreading awareness online, making donations, and reading legislative updates, in 2014. Hanson has attended a lobby day in Albany and met many activists who have been successful in “propelling New York State to be a leader in gun violence prevention legislation.” With experience in hand, she brought her knowledge to the Ithaca community. She volunteered to be the legislative lead for Tompkins County and arranged a meeting with Tom Reed, our district representative. Activist mothers, activist youths, and elected officials were all present at this meeting. Hanson opened up communication between the youth and the decision-makers when she invited students from IHS to the meeting.
Of the intergenerational nature of activism, Hanson stated that “The synergy of moms and youth advocating . . . together was energizing.” Mothers and students approach issues from different viewpoints, but both groups are energized to tackle the nation’s major problems.