Activists Disrupt Capitol with Gun Violence Protests

by | Feb 14, 2019

Sean Stefanic--who calls himself, a “fabulous footman” of Gays Against Guns--and other protesters march to lawmakers’ offices to demand stricter gun laws on the one year anniversary of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)Tori Wenig, of the D.C. chapter of Gays Against Guns, said that because of the Parkland shooting, the tone of the Valentine’s day protest is more somber than in past years. When asked what pronouns she uses, Tori said, “‘Don’t kill me,’ I guess?” (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)Jeremy Tjhung and Kimberly Miller walk in in the lower floors of the Russell Senate building headed to lawmakers office to “shame” lawmakers who do not support stricter gun laws and to deliver thank-you Valentines to the ones who do. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)These silent protesters dressed in white and carried a photo of someone killed by guns or transphobic violence. They declined to be identified or interviewed. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)Two protesters take a “veil break” while the group plans their visit to lawmakers’ offices. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)A broken heart in Hart: After the visits to lawmakers, the group began their “arrestable action.” They used their bodies and red fabric to create a “broken heart” on the first floor of the Hart building. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)Jay W. Walker bags up the red cloth from the broken heart protest and the other protestors debrief. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)The arrested members of GAG who wait to load into the police van outside of Hart Senate Office Building. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)Ethan Somers, communications director for March for Our Lives, talks with GAGS organizer Jay W. Walker. He thanked them for their work and invited them to the hill, where March For Our Lives activists were handing out letters handwritten by the mother of Joaquin Oliver, one of the victims of the Parkland shooting. (Gabrielle Bienasz/MNS)After a long day, Gays Against Guns activists talk and eat at Tortilla Coast restaurant near Capitol Hill.