March For Our Lives comes to Cape Region

A national day of protest to end gun violence in America Saturday, March 24, will be marked in Rehoboth Beach, Lewes and Bethany Beach.

The Rehoboth event is being organized by Elyse Moore, Kathleen Schell and Sarah Healy, three mothers and friends who were inspired to act following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

“We just feel passionate about this,” Moore said. “I don’t want to turn on the TV one more time. It’s not political. It’s about stopping violence - gun violence - in schools. That’s what this march is about. Something has got to give. ”

“We’re trying to say there’s a silent majority of people that want to work together to end gun violence,” Schell said. “We can’t afford to sit on the sidelines anymore. I can’t sit here and do nothing. I have to be part of something where we say, ‘This is not OK.’”

Moore and Schell said they were inspired to act by the Parkland kids who have been speaking out.

“The kids are the ones that are starting this whole movement. We’re completely inspired by them because they are the ones that took the lead,” Moore said.

“I was never that brave when I was that age,” Schell added. “They’ve really shown us the way.”

Schell said organizers of 600 marches throughout the country - the primary march is in Washington, D.C. - had a conference call with two of the most prominent voices from Parkland, David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez.

“You’ve got high school students more mature than a lot of adults in making this work,” Moore said. “They want something to change. They don’t want this to happen to anybody else.”

Moore is a mother of four, with two children old enough to express interest in taking part in the march. Schell said these children have grown up with the specter of mass shootings in school, something she would like to help change.

“They have a bulletproof whiteboard that the kids are supposed to hide behind while the teacher shields them from oncoming fire. It’s shocking,” she said. “It’s not just schools. We need to be able to be safe and go enjoy events and not be on high alert or armed ourselves. That kills me.”

Schell said she would like the march to be inclusive and welcome all points of view.

“We are trying to open doors, not put up walls. We are trying to come to common-sense solutions that people can agree on,” she said.

“There are realistic solutions out there, and hopefully this march will bring that to people’s attention,” Moore said.

“We’re just a small town, but we can also stand up together and say, ‘We’re with you. We agree with you. We want change,’” Schell said.

Those attending the march should arrive by 9 a.m. at Stockley Street Park, also known as Silver Lake Park, where the tot lot is located. Parking is available at Rehoboth Elementary School; participants should walk across the Turtle Bridge. Moore and Schell said there will be a moment of silence, as well as speakers and music. The march itself will kick off at 10 a.m. and will end at the Bandstand. Attendees are encouraged to wear royal blue in support; 200 T-shirts will be available for purchase. The event will end about noon.

Events planned in Lewes, Bethany

Besides the Rehoboth march, additional events will be held in Lewes and Bethany Beach. A March For Our Lives will be held in Lewes starting at 10 a.m. Participants will meet at Shields Elementary School parking lot, walk down Savannah Road to Second Street and end at St. Peter’s Church.

The Bethany Beach Christian Church will hold a rally from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Participants will stand on the sidewalk along both sides of Route 26 near Grotto Pizza. Attendees should bring a poster with a message of support but nothing political. There will be no speeches or music. Parking will be in the Grotto parking lot and the neighborhood side streets.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/MarchforourliveRehobothbeach or www.marchforourlives.com.