Sag Harbor Moms Demand Action Holds Event To Raise Awareness About Gun Violence Prevention

Community members across the East End gathered to raise awareness about gun violence prevention in support of the Sag Harbor Moms Demand Action group, a part of the New York chapter of Moms Demand Action. The evening introduced new members of the community to the chapter and encouraged them to participate in future meetings while learning how they can have a real and lasting impact in the fight to end gun violence. The event featured leaders from Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network Moms Demand Action and Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence to share resources and insights on how the community can drive cultural and legislative change.

“With guns as the leading cause of death for our children, this issue is personal to so many and will take all of us joining together in the fight to end gun violence,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “It was encouraging to see community members joining together to see how each and every one of us can get off the sidelines and make a difference.”

“As the mother of three children there is no singular issue of greater importance and urgency to us than gun safety,” said Meredith Burns, East End resident who moved out during the pandemic. “We believe the power of this issue unifies us by gathering as a community with the unique resolve of mothers and caregivers. We are not the first group of mothers on the East End to fight gun violence but with the tight knit community that exists and has grown since the pandemic, we wanted to illuminate the momentum of this organization and bring as many people as possible into the movement. It is so easy to feel helpless on a topic as horrific as this, but together, step by step, we really can build an incredible, informed, safe, and empowered community.”

“More and more politicians on both sides of the aisle realize that common-sense gun safety laws aren’t just good policy, they’re also good politics — and that shift in the political calculus was driven by Moms Demand Action volunteers,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “Every community in America has been damaged by gun violence, which is why it’s so important for every community to be part of the movement to prevent avoidable tragedies. On behalf of Everytown, I’m so grateful to everyone who helped organize this inspiring event.”

“As a mother myself, I can confidently say that moms have a grit that is unmatched. It is so encouraging to see more women joining together to lead in the fight against gun violence,” said Abbey Clements, Survivor Teacher of the Sandy Hook School tragedy and Co-Founder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. “It is heartbreaking that in 2023 alone there have been over 420 mass shootings. This will not stop until every mom, every parent, every educator, every community joins this effort to eradicate gun violence. It is women like this that bring together a community to unite behind a common goal that gives me so much hope.”

The event was spearheaded by local moms including Meredith Burns, Emily Onkey, Zara Tisch, Emily Tisch Sussman, and Joey Wölffer who hosted the reception at Wölffer Estate Vineyard. The event aims to mobilize the community, both year round and seasonal, to fight for gun safety at the local, state, and national level.

The Sag Harbor Moms Demand Action group will hold monthly meetings supported by breakout sessions to dive deeper into specific and actionable areas of interest. From school safety, to federal and local legislation, to responsible gun storage through the Be SMART program.

Sandy Hook survivor Jackie Hegarty, and her family Beth Hegarty, Meghan Hegarty, and Shannon Hegarty were in attendance. Other attendees included Christy Turlington, Donna Karan, and Rachel Zoe.