Million Mom March Mothers Day 2000, The

Human Quest, Jul/Aug 2000 by Harkness, Martha-Louise M

Marian Wright Edelman's speech was very powerful! She began with this statement: "Abraham Lincoln, John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. are not here to lead us out of the wilderness of violence that killed them, but ... we're here and we're going to love our children more than the N.R.A. loves their guns." One after another, she mentioned well-known activists saying she may not have their outstanding qualities but ". . . I care, I am willing to serve, I am willing to vote to protect our children."

The idea of this march came from Donna Dees-Thomases, a woman from New Jersey who cares, who is willing to serve. She was horrified by recent shootings at the Jewish center in California, and wanted to do something about it. It was empowering for all of us who, like her, were horrified by -- and felt helpless to do anything about -- the shooting deaths of our young people all over the country. It gave us all hope and a means by which we can impact our government and our country. Numbers indicate that we're not going to be silent; we're a voice to be reckoned with. As Anna Quindlen said, "We know about the 2nd Amendment. It guarantees the right to a militia, not the right to no-questions-asked gun purchases! "From beginning to end, it was an incredibly uplifting day! Being a minister myself, I attended the interfaith service at 10:00 before the March began at 11:00. Those leading the service were Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh. Many read from ancient sacred texts thousands of years old; teachings about peace and forgiveness. The service closed with a song I remember well, a song I sang as a child in the children's choir in my home church. With tears in my eyes, I stood to sing it again on that beautiful Mother's Day, surrounded by thousands of others: "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." May it be so!

Martha-Louise M. Harkness is a Presbyterian minister, a poet, and an activist for peace and justice. She is married to David Harkness, also a Presbyterian minister. They have three sons and live in Westchester Count, NY