Olympia, WA– On Thursday, January 30th, members of a statewide advocacy organization called the Faith Action Network gathered on the front steps of the state legislative building in Olympia to add their names to the chorus of citizens demanding background checks on all gun sales. The event dubbed “Running for our Lives!” involved runners and walkers who literally demonstrated their willingness to go the extra mile to support Initiative 594 which would extend background checks on gun sales to all internet and gun show sales.
The Rev. Brooks Berndt of First Congregational United Church of Christ ran a marathon to demonstrate his support, while the Rev. Jessie Vedanti of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Washougal walked a 5k. Other participants ran or used a wheelchair to cover 5k, 10k, and half-marathon distances.
Berndt and Vedanti were two of seven clergy carrying children’s backpacks as they ran and walked. The backpacks represented the seven kids who are killed by gun violence every day in the United States. The marathon course that Berndt ran was designed so that five faith communities who support the initiative provided aide stations and refreshments as part of the route. The route was designed to symbolize the unity of faith-based support behind the issue.
When asked why he was willing to not only go the extra mile for Initiative 594, but was willing to go an extra 26.2 miles, Berndt replied, “To summarize it in one word, I would say I was motivated by love. After Sandy Hook, I couldn’t bear the thought of my two-year-old daughter growing up in our society without my trying to make it safer for her. This legislation would literally save lives.” Berndt was not alone in his efforts. Over 20 members from First Congregational UCC in Vancouver made the trip to Olympia to volunteer, walk, or run as part of the event.
In explaining her participation, Vedanti said, “My faith calls me to speak out for peace and work for a world in which it would be easier to be good. We all would be safer and less likely to kill someone if the availability of guns was more closely monitored.”
The initiative has over 345,000 supporters in the state of Washington. It will head to voters next November if state elected officials fail to take action on it this legislative session.
Among the speakers at the rally was Cheryl Stumbo, a survivor of the 2006 shooting at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle.