Sharing below a message from National PTA that resonated. While one may feel largely helpless, it is important to remember that every voice counts. The National PTA has provided a link that makes it simple to send a message to our members of the Congress. Please take a moment to read through and stand with the children & teachers of Robb Elementary.
From the National PTA
Enough is well past enough.
The mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday is the deadliest school shooting since 2012, when 26 children and adults were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
Our association has challenged Congress over and over again to address this issue. Parents are scared to send their children to school, teachers are worried about how to protect their students, and our children are now singing new lyrics to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star:
“Lockdown, lockdown, Lock the door
“Shut the lights off, Say no more
“Go behind the desk and hide
“Wait until it’s safe inside”
We are, as civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer once said, sick and tired of being sick and tired. But we are not going to go numb. PTA has been the conscience of this country on issues affecting children and youth for over 125 years, and we’re never going to stop advocating for every child with one united voice.
We urge you to join us in demanding change—and to take care of yourself and your family, too.
Ways to take action on gun violence:
Contact members of your congress: Use our VoterVoice system to send an urgent message to your members of Congress today to insist they work across the aisle to pass sensible gun safety and violence prevention policies that ensure our children are protected from harm. Start now.
Use Our Gun Violence Prevention Policy Brief: PTA is all about the power of collective action: We can do anything together, because we can be everywhere at once. Use our policy brief on gun safety and violence prevention to demand change in your community.
Join Us on Capitol Hill June 14-15: PTA advocates from across the country are heading to Capitol Hill to meet in-person with their members of Congress and advocate for the health & safety of every child during the National PTA 125th Anniversary Convention. Will you join us?
Resources on Mental Health, Grief and Loss
Healthy Minds: PTA believes that mental health should be an everyday priority, but it becomes even more important in crisis. So, we’ve created tips and resources for families at any stage of the journey, including grief and loss.
Managing Stress: Our friends at the American Psychological Association have resources to address the aftermath of a mass shooting, including ways to help children manage distress and ways to manage your own distress. Please use and share them!