Panel from Woodstock Stage to be Delivered to Washington D.C.
(New City, NY) – Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester), fellow lawmakers, and gun violence prevention advocates gathered in New City, to sign a panel from the original 1969 Woodstock stage.
Steve Gold rediscovered the original stage from Woodstock 1969 and decided to use one of the panels for activism and social change in response to devastating, multiple mass shootings. On the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock, celebrated in Bethel, New York, he asked concert-goers to sign the panel in support of expanded universal background checks and common-sense gun laws. He also started a petition online to garner more signatures, and contacted Senator Carlucci, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, and Moms Demand Action in Rockland about his effort.
Senator David Carlucci said, “This stage panel is a symbol of unity. By signing it today, we said in one collective voice that the federal government needs to come together and take action now. No community should have to bury another child or loved one due to a mass shooting or gun violence that could be prevented. I thank Steve Gold for his advocacy and allowing our office to display his panel so even more residents can sign it and join the fight for safer communities.”
Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) said, “Today’s signing is a symbolic gesture to say: enough is enough. I stand with Rocklanders in taking a stand against senseless gun violence and continuing our resolve to protect communities across the U.S. I thank Steve Gold for his advocacy and for using this historic stage panel to inspire change.”
Steve Gold, Co-Founder of Peace of Stage said, “This panel is more than a piece of plywood from the original Woodstock Stage. It represents a time of hope when people reached out to each other and committed to making the world a better place. We need to do the same now as our country is being torn apart by gun violence and tragedy. My wish is for people to sign this board or our online petition at change.org, speak up, and get involved in common sense gun reform. We must pressure federal officials to act immediately.”
Shari Maurer with Moms Demand Action in Rockland County said, “I want to thank Steve who came to us with this idea. The issue that he chose, gun safety, meant a lot to us. We had a great year in New York, and we passed a lot of new laws. On August 24th, the Extreme Risk Protection Order law took effect, but as we have seen in Ohio and Texas, we need it to be better and to do that we need to pass laws on a federal level. Everyone can text CHECKS to 64433, and you can get in touch with your Senator about the issue. 93% of Americans support background checks, including 89% of Republicans and 87% of gun owners. That is a huge number, we need that voice to be stronger than the voice of the NRA.”
To increase signatures on the stage panel, Senator Carlucci offered to display it in his front office window. Now residents can come in anytime to 20 S. Main St. in New City, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sign the panel for at least a week. Gold will then deliver the panel to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in Washington, D.C. after the Senate reconvenes this month.
Senate republicans have failed to introduce a bill to expand background checks and have not taken up H.R. 8 for a vote. H.R. 8 would expand background checks to those who buy a gun from a private seller. The bill passed with bipartisan support more than 6 months ago in response to the horrific El Paso and Dayton shootings, which left 31 people dead. However, McConnel has not brought the bill to the floor for a vote.
On Saturday, 7 more people were killed and at least 21 others were injured in a drive-by mass shooting in Midland and Odessa, Texas.
Senator Pete Harckham said, “Thanks to the hard work of the NYS Democratic conference this year, we passed some of the toughest gun safety laws in the nation to protect our citizens. Now, the federal government has to step up and pass the same, common-sense gun safety legislation, so criminals and emotionally-disturbed New Yorkers don’t have to ability to purchase guns in other states. 50 years ago, Woodstock brought together thousands of young people to celebrate peace, love and rock and roll. It’s only fitting that a panel from the original Woodstock Stage be used to support expanded universal background checks and common-sense gun laws.”
