Carlos Matthew Soto said, “I am here because my sister was killed, she was one of the teachers and she shouldn’t have been killed in her classroom.”
Report and Photography by Paula Antolini
January 18, 2016 10:07 PM EDT
Photo above: Carlos Matthew Soto holds a protest sign, his sister Vicki Soto, a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School, was killed in the massacre on December 14, 2012.
Click on photos to view larger.
VIDEO/PHOTOS: Over 100 Protesters Attend Anti-Gun Violence Rally In Newtown
View the Bethel Advocate photos and video below to see the protests and hear what people had to say:
Frigid temperatures below freezing, and whipping, non-stop, high wind with wind chill temps in the single digits, did not deter over 100 protesters from attending the anti-gun violence protest rally on Jan. 18th, in Newtown CT.
The Newtown Action Alliance (NAA) was joined by other groups this past Monday to protest the Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) “irresponsible marketing and lobbying practices” and a Las Vegas Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) in which the NSSF is participating. The gun show runs from Jan. 19-22 and is considered the largest U.S. firearm national trade show.
The protest took place at 4:00 p.m. in front of the NSSF headquarters on 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT. The cold weather might have had an effect on how long the protest lasted, as it was just a little over an hour before people began to leave. A similar protest that took place by the Newtown Action Alliance in 2013 at the same location, in front of the NSSF headquarters, lasted twice as long but the weather was warmer.
Besides the Newtown Action Alliance, the other organizations that attended Monday’s rally were: Connecticut Against Gun Violence, Brady Campaign Southwest CT Chapter, Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence and the Enough Campaign.
Anti-gun violence advocates said they basically wanted to see more gun laws in place and mandatory background checks. Some protest signs were clearly supporting President Obama.
Other protest signs referred to Martin Luther King, as this protest was held on the National holiday honoring King. Signs read “MLK Was Pro Gun.”
Once again it seemed there were two extreme sides to the gun issues, either supporting the second amendment and the Constitution of the United States regarding a citizen’s right to bear arms, and supporting the NRA and NSSF, or the other side, supporting background checks and stricter gun laws in general.
Groups such as the Newtown Action Alliance were clarifying that they are not anti-gun but instead believed that stricter gun laws and background checks would prevent more deaths. One Sandy Hook woman, however, gave a long comment about deer hunting, stating it was “disgusting” in reference to using high powered weapons. “Gotta do something. There’s 300 million guns, who’s taking them away? Really? Does that make any sense to anybody?” she said, “How can a person with a brain in their head think someone is coming to take 300 million guns from 65 million different places?”
Probably the most poignant comment received was when Bethel Advocate was asking the same question of all protesters, which was, “Why are you here today?” and one young man, Carlos Matthew Soto, said, “I am here because my sister was killed, she was one of the teachers and she shouldn’t have been killed in her classroom.” He said her name was Vicki Soto. She was one of the teachers killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre on December 14, 2012.
Be sure to view the video above to hear many more comments from rally attendees.
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