Moms Demand Action is pushing for this action Saturday at Framingham elementary school

Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
·2 min read
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FRAMINGHAM — Nearly a year ago this Sunday, an armed gunman opened fire at a Buffalo grocery store, killing 10 people and wounding three others.

In the wake of that mass shooting and many others throughout the country that have occurred since then, Moms Demand Action will host a gathering at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Hemenway Elementary School to form a human chain around the school and demand reinstatement of a federal ban on assault weapons.

"Given the time of the year, and that it's something moms care deeply about and the community cares about, we thought Mother's Day (weekend) would be the best day to come together," said Samantha McGarry, of the Massachusetts chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Our goal is simple: We're asking them (the government) to reinstate the assault weapon ban."

Framingham Supt. of Schools Robert Tremblay speaks with Framingham High School senior Emma Tessitore in the high school lobby, Feb. 23, 2023. The high school has been open during February vacation week for counseling in the aftermath of the false alarm for an active shooter in the building last Friday.
Framingham Supt. of Schools Robert Tremblay speaks with Framingham High School senior Emma Tessitore in the high school lobby, Feb. 23, 2023. The high school has been open during February vacation week for counseling in the aftermath of the false alarm for an active shooter in the building last Friday.

Moms Demand Action was founded shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, on Dec. 14, 2012. Twenty-eight people were killed, including 20 children who were just 6 or 7 years old.

'Hundreds running down the street': Framingham High School senior recounts terror of false alarm

"We are a nationwide grassroots movement of volunteers (trying) to find common ground to end gun violence," said McGarry. "We're a movement of mothers and others, everybody and anybody, who cares about changing the situation we've been dealing with in this country."

Along with the human chain, Saturday's event will feature several speakers, including McGarry; her daughter, Tessa McGarry, of Students Demand Action; and gun violence survivor Ilsye Levine Kanji. U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., is expected to attend.

Why Hemenway Elementary School was chosen

McGarry said she chose the Hemenway School for the site due to personal reasons.

"It's where my kids went," she said. "The day of Sandy Hook, they were in kindergarten and second grade. After the shooting, I went there and sat in my car and kept vigil until school was out."

False alarm: Swatting incidents reported at several schools in MetroWest, Greater Milford

McGarry estimates it will require about 100 people to lock arms and form a human chain that goes around the school.

Although there haven't been mass shootings locally, the fear has been felt, McGarry said. She said the accidental active shooter alarm on Feb. 17 at Framingham High School terrified parents and students, and recent swatting incidents have added to that.

"We live in one of the states with the strongest gun laws, but we are all terrified it could happen here," she said.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Moms Demand Action plans assault weapons protest at Framingham school