California Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Remember Monterey Park Shooting 

MONTEREY PARK, CA. — The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, issued the following statements today to mark one year since the mass shooting at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, in which 11 people were shot and killed and nine others were wounded after an all-day Lunar New Year Festival.

“One year ago, a celebration dedicated to a new beginning was tainted by a gun that shattered our Asian American and Pacific Islander community,” said Mia Livas Porter, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As we honor and remember the victims and survivors of gun violence, it is vital for us to unite and renew our commitment to advocating for policies that prioritize the safety of all Californians and work on a united effort to eradicate gun violence.” 

“As gun violence continues tearing communities apart, we must remember the legacies behind every gun violence victim and honor them with action,” said Nathan Morgan, a Students Demand Action leader at the University of California, Los Angeles. “Our future generations deserve to grow up in a country without the constant fear of being gunned down. Only with action and a genuine commitment to change can we break free from this crisis and put an end to gun violence once and for all.” 

“As a teacher and parent, I am worried by the impact that gun violence has on the future of our youth”, said Mayor Sanchez. “As we approach the one year anniversary of the mass shooting in Monterey Park, let’s commit to each other to honor those that we lost to gun violence by fighting to put an end to senseless shootings so that our youth have a chance to go to school and other public spaces without the fear of being a victim to gun violence.  This year, we will be celebrating and honoring the lives we lost by ringing in the Lunar New Year. Our community has shown the world how resilient and strong we are and that we have used this tragedy to bring our community together, but also to advocate for gun safety regulations.” 

Tomorrow, Mayor Sanchez will join local Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers to commemorate National Gun Violence Survivors Week (Jan. 22-26) in a virtual event remembering the victims and survivors of the gun violence crisis. During National Gun Violence Survivors Week and throughout the year, we honor those in California and across the nation who have been impacted by the varying forms of gun violence, and stand with them as they embark on the all-too common journey of processing and healing that survivors of gun violence must face.

Every day, more than 120 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence. Statistics about gun violence in California are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Rankings – which shows how California’s gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here.