LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan State University students gathered on the Capitol lawn today to memorialize one year since the shooting that took the lives of three students.
One year ago today, organizers from Sit Down MSU and Students Demand Action gathered at the Capitol for an event just like the one held today, but just a day after the shooting that took the lives of 3 of their peers.
Rani Asava was one of those students who gathered to speak about the past year.
“A lot has happened within the year while simultaneously so little has changed,” Asava said. “Many of us don’t have the privilege to only pay remembrance on the one-year anniversary, because that night has haunted our thoughts for the last 365 days.”
Today, they came together again to memorialize the lives of Ariel Diamond Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner.
The students talked with lawmakers in the Capitol, thanking those who worked to pass the gun reform that went into effect this week, and pushing them to continue working on policies to end gun violence in Michigan.
Saylor Reinders is a third-year student at MSU and a co-leader with Students Demand Action who spoke about the 120 Americans who lose their lives to gun violence every day in the U.S., and pushing for attention on a national level to what the students called an epidemic…
“We can’t accept this as normal. I refuse to let future generations grow up like we have: living in constant worry that any day could be their last.” Reinders said. “I’ve learned that we cannot endure this alone. today, let’s tell our legislators what this cause means to us in the days ahead. let’s educate our friends and families, and in a week and a half, go out and vote in the primaries. Let’s use our power for good, for love, for change.”
MSU student Alissa Hakim spoke about the need for action that would reduce violence around the globe.
“We have the power to make the world better. For the sake of our lives and for the sake of Alexandria, Brian, and Ariel.” Hakim said. “We can do justice for them as members of a global community. We are all interconnected so when we say there needs to be an end to gun violence, we mean gun violence everywhere for everyone.”
The groups pushed lawmakers to talk with our congressional legislators, to create policy that would add safeguards like the ones just instated in Michigan, into federal law.
