“There are no words...but there are actions.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us October 25th and 26th to honor Tom’s memory and mark the one year anniversary of his senseless murder.  Whether you were with us in person, or sent us love and support from afar, we are so grateful for everyone’s generosity and engagement in our efforts.  Hundreds joined us over two nights to hear about ways we can all help reduce the loss of life from gun violence and address the trauma that is faced by so many. If you want more information on the groups who were there, here are links to the Alliance of Concerned Men - TraRon Center - and a link to the national site of Moms Demand Action (if you scroll down the national Moms Demand Action site and look very closely in the top row of the big crowd on the Florida Statehouse steps, you’ll see Tom’s picture being held up high in the air).  And if you want to quickly sign up by phone for your local Moms Demand Action chapter - text the word READY to 644-33. Your local chapter is doing great things and could use your help.

Over the past year you have been part of a movement that needs to continue to grow.  Along with many other friends, you have helped us raise over $300,000 for So Others Might Eat, Moms Demand Action, Everytown For Gun Safety in America, and other local organizations.  These funds are helping each organization do vital work in the community. Many of you have helped us meet with members of Congress, business leaders, activists and nonprofit executives. As we take our efforts into another year, we appreciate any ideas you might have on how we can have a greater impact in DC or across the nation.  In particular, we want to see our Capital city become a model for the rest of the country, and would appreciate help with connections to people you think might be able to help amplify the voices of gun violence victims and survivors.  Please do let us know if you have any ideas. While we do this to honor Tom, it is also something that we do to honor every single victim.  

Several of you have joined us in court as we follow the slow crawl of the justice system.  Many of you have joined us in lobbying our local Washington DC elected officials at the Wilson Building.  Others have volunteered at So Others Might Eat. You’ve trotted for Tom at Thanksgiving, voted when he couldn’t, and done so many other things to carry on his legacy of caring for everyone in our society.  The institutions that Tom cared so much about have also honored his life. The University of Vermont English department created the annual Tom Marmet Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Cultural Studies and So Others Might Eat has dedicated the Tom Marmet Community Room at the Conway Center in Anacostia, where Tom was working until he was killed.  And there are other commemorative efforts in the works. However, as fulfilling as it is to recognize the impact of Tom’s life, every day we wake up to the news of another shooting, and another loss of life. There is so much more that can be done in DC and other cities. We know more than anything, Tom would want us to focus our efforts on trying to save as many lives as possible and addressing the trauma in communities that face gun violence every day.  It is frustrating to see that the efforts of our elected leaders are not as focused or comprehensive as they could be. This must change.  So thank you in advance for helping us shine a light on the plague of daily gun violence in our cities.  Thank you for standing up for Tom, and for every other victim.

Thank you for supporting us in our grief and in our efforts to make a difference and save lives.  We could not do this without you.