Last Monday, March 27, three children – Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, and Hallie Scruggs, all 9 – and three adults – Mike Hill, Cynthia Peak, and Katherine Koonce – were killed at The Covenant School in Nashville. Covenant is in my neighborhood and less than three miles from the school where I teach nine-year-olds just like Evelyn, William, and Hallie. I teach children who were friends with them, who are struggling to cope and understand something that they should never have to.
This tragedy deeply affected our community in Nashville; all week, we grieved and processed and cried and ached. We hugged our loved ones tightly. At school, teachers showed up every day for their kids. We tried to help them and our students’ parents as best as we could, while pushing aside our own needs. This weekend, I finally did some things for myself – my birthday is Tuesday, so I had a few activities planned – and though I felt guilty enjoying life again, when these Covenant families are mourning, I knew I had to take care of myself to keep showing up.
So how do we keep going? What can we do?
1. We cannot give up the effort to protect our children. They died because a person was able to legally purchase assault rifles, yet our Tennessee legislators do not have any plans for stricter gun laws. We have to keep pressing them. We have to keep calling (no matter what state you live in) and showing up peacefully at the State Capitol.
If you haven’t yet, call or email your state senators and representative and ask them to co-sponsor the Office of Gun Violence and Prevention Act, which would be a permanent office that would strategize to reduce gun violence, and express your support for the Assault Weapons Ban. The AR-15 was made for combat in 1955, and there’s absolutely no good reason for regular people to own them.
2. Support The Covenant School by donating to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. If you’re local, you can visit the memorial outside of the school, where people are bringing flowers, teddy bears, and other sweet comforts.
3. Donate to Everytown or Moms Demand Action, two organizations working to end gun violence.
4. Vote. We have to vote for people who support common-sense gun laws. My students are scared of having to go into a lockdown, and right now, I cannot promise with absolute certainty that we are safe. This is not okay.
5. Take care of yourself. We have to care for ourselves. Right now, I feel like it’s only a matter of time until the next shooting. This is not a normal way to live.
If you are local, there are more rallies happening at the Capitol this week and initiatives to be involved in. Follow @maryam_abolfazli_writer, who organized last Thursday’s rally, as she continues to post more info, as well as @awaketn. I will also keep posting ways to help on my own Instagram. Please share other resources in the comments.
Sending a big hug and love to you all.
