credit: Silence the Violence
Seventeen years ago, on Detroit’s East Side, Silence the Violence began as a modest march by residents of the Church of the Messiah to honor loved ones lost to gun violence. Today, this powerful movement has grown exponentially, with communities across Michigan dedicating an entire month to events and activities aimed at demanding meaningful change and ending the scourge of gun violence.
“We started ‘Silence the Violence’ seventeen years ago to honor the innocent victims of gun violence and to call for change, and now that change we prayed, marched, and voted for has arrived. These new gun laws are going to save lives, and we need to make sure that everyone knows about the progress that we’ve made,” Pastor Barry Randolph of Church of the Messiah said.
Church of the Messiah will host the annual march on June 15 at 10 am and expects more than 1000 people to participate. Pastor Barry was joined by 11th-grade student Kelly Huggett from Holland, whose community organizes a resource and activism fair.
“I’m exhausted and terrified by the reality of constant school shootings in our country. From Uvalde to Oxford and MSU, our schools have been turned into crime scenes. But it absolutely does not have to be this way. As young people, we’re fighting back and demanding a future where every student is safe in their school, home, and community,” Huggett said.
The schedule includes 30+ events at 24 locations, including marches, film screenings, training, community resource fairs, art events, an expungement fair, and more.
Full schedule of events
Silence the Violence also coincides with Moms Demand Action’s “Wear Orange” month, and many events are co-sponsored.
FLINT: On May 25, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm, there will be a Rally and March from Flint City Hall (1101 Saginaw St.)
YPSILANTI: June 1, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Community Non-Violence Awareness Training, Huron Heights Apartments (669 Woburn Drive)
ROYAL OAK: June 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Gun Violence Awareness Town Hall Meeting, First United Methodist Church (320 W 7th St.)
NILES: June 3, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Active Shooter Mitigation, Trinity Episcopal Church ( 9 S 4th St)
GROSSE POINTE: June 6, 6:15 pm – 8:30 pm, Students Demand Action Panel, Grosse Pointe Woods Public Library (20680 Mack Avenue)
GRAND RAPIDS: June 7, Gun Violence Awareness Day Resource Fair, Butterworth Hospital Lobby 10 am – 12 pm & Devos Children’s Hospital Lobby 2 pm – 4 pm (100 Michigan St NE)
KALAMAZOO: June 7, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Premiere of “What Went Wrong,” Urban Alliance (1009 E Stockbridge Ave., Kalamazoo 49001)
MARQUETTE: June 8, Time TBD, Gun Safety Vigil and Gun Lock Blessing/Distribution, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (201 E. Ridge St., Marquette, 49855)
YPSILANTI: June 8, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Stop the Violence Community Outreach, Prospect Park ( 550 N Prospect Rd)
FLINT: June 9, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, New Legislation Teach-In, Vernon Chapel AME (5802 Dupont St., Flint 48505)
MILFORD: June 9, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Screening of Gabby Giffords’ film “Won’t Back Down,” Milford Independent Cinema (945 E Summit St)
HOLLAND: June 9, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Wear Orange Event, Centennial Park, (250 Central Ave. Holland 494923)
EAST LANSING (Note: This event is for ages 12-18): June 12, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, Soul Box Art Project, East Lansing Public Library (950 Abbot Rd)
ADA: June 11, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Ada Township Park Gazebo (1180 Buttrick Ave SE, Ada, 49301)
ST. JOSEPH: June 14, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm, Candle Light Vigil, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (914 Lane Drive St., St. Joseph 49085)
DETROIT: June 15, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, Silence the Violence March & Community Fair, Church of the Messiah (231 E Grand Blvd)
TRAVERSE CITY: June 15, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, Community Resource Fair for Teen Wellness, Traverse City District Library (610 Woodmere Ave)
INKSTER: June 19, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Peace Walk, Old City Hall (27301 South River Dr.)
GRAND HAVEN: June 22, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Silent March to End Gun Violence, Central Park (N. Fifth St. and Columbus Ave.)
OXFORD: June 22, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, 3rd Annual March with Oxford, Centennial Park (41 S Washington St)
MUSKEGON HEIGHTS: June 22, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Expungement Fair and Gun Safety Event, Lakehawks Community Center (95 W. Broadway Ave., Muskegon Heights, 49444)
WHITEHALL: June 24, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Gun Violence Teach-In, White Lake Community Library (3900 W White Lake Dr)
EAST LANSING: June 25, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Soul Box Gallery Opening, East Lansing Public Library (950 Abbot Rd)
HOLLAND: June 27, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Teach-In on the New Gun Violence Legislation, Herrick District Library – North Branch (155 Riley St., Holland 49424)
ANN ARBOR: June 29, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Program of Remembrance, Education, and Action, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church (1679 Broadway St)
DETROIT: June 30, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Annual Charles W. Reid March and Rally, Mosque 1 (19160 Evergreen Rd) and O’Hair Park (19400 Pembroke Ave)
For information on updated lists and registration forms, please visit www.endgunviolencemi.org/silence
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