Pelosi Remarks at Sit-In to Disarm Hate on National Day of Action on Gun Violence Prevention
San Francisco – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a sit-in to disarm hate on the National Day of Action on gun violence prevention calling on House Republicans to act on commonsense gun violence prevention legislation. Below are the Leader’s opening and closing remarks:
Leader Pelosi’s Opening Remarks:
“Thank you very much, Reverend [Doctor Karen] Oliveto. And to you, we say a resounding ‘amen’. Thank you for referencing the fact that last week on the floor of the House under the leadership of [Congressman] John Lewis. What better leader could we have on the subject?
[Applause]
“We went to the floor of the House and Members joined him, followed his lead because people said, ‘No longer shall we have on the floor of the House a moment of silence following a tragedy that is just that: a moment of silence and no action.’ No more silence without deed. No more.
[Cheers]
“So our message to our leadership is: give us a vote. Give us a vote on background checks. Give us a vote on people on terrorist lists should not be able to buy guns. My colleague, Mike Thompson, who I’ll introduce in a few seconds, will speak to that. But I thank all of you for coming to this sit-in. Clearly we have more people who are standing with us as we sit-in, continuing the conversation of last week, our Members all weekend and leading up to today and going into next week have been having such events around the country – a continuation of the voice for reason, for decency, for respect for those who have lost their loved ones, who are channeling their grief so that we can end gun violence. Thank you all – the organizations that are here, Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Brady Group, you name it. Gabby Giffords’ group, and so many individuals.
“When I told John Lewis of our meeting here today, he said: ‘Our goal is to make sure that the average Joe – and Josie – know their power. That if they call their Member of Congress, we can get a vote and we can pass a bill.’ I think we have over 40 events today and leading up to today, involving many Members. But our purpose is not to speak; it is to listen, to learn, to hear, to enhance our ability to act upon what you have come here to say.
“One of our colleagues who spoke on the steps of the Capitol last week, he is a Member of Congress, [Congressman Bobby Rush] he also has a family that has been victimized by gun violence. And what he told us is: there is no sound in the world – he said this of his wife – as the shriek, the sound of the pain, of the shriek of a mother who has lost her child. There is nothing to compare – not that dads don’t suffer as well but he was describing his wife. [It] had a tremendous impact on us.
“Our leader in this effort for a long time has been Congressman Mike Thompson, for our neighbor to the north representing Sonoma and Napa.
[Applause]
“Mike Thompson is the Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He has worked with Members across the spectrum on this issue, built consensus, built bipartisanship so that we do have the legislation to fight for. He has served in the military, he has received awards for his service in the Vietnam War, he is a gun owner, a sportsman. He knows about gun ownership. And his voice – because of his experience – has been a very strong voice in Congress that has enabled us, by reaching out to social media, by reaching out to the groups, enabled us to make the most of the action that happened on the Floor under the leadership of John Lewis last week. So as I bring him up, let’s once again salute John Lewis for his leadership.
[Applause]
“And let us recognize the leadership and welcome Congressman Mike Thompson, Chair of our Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.”
Leader Pelosi’s Closing Remarks:
“Thank you, my colleagues. You wonder why – why can we not get a vote? Is it true that there are those in Congress who are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the National Rifle Association?
[Applause]
“I hope not. When the Speaker said to John Lewis – when he led the sit-in on the Floor – ‘This is a publicity stunt’ John said, ‘That’s exactly what they said 50 years ago when I marched over the bridge in Selma, Alabama.’
[Applause]
“I now have the privilege of taking us back to listening to our friends. Kimiah Tucker, Workforce Director of Magic Zone and survivor is with us today. Again, we are eager to hear her story. I will yield immediately to her. Thank you, Kimiah.”