Fourth Sandy Hook Ride On Washington Set To Deliver Appeal For Common Sense Gun Legislation

NEWTOWN, Conn., April 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Team 26, a group of cyclists from Newtown, CT and beyond inspired by those lost and those who survived the senseless tragedy at the Sandy Hook School, will embark on its fourth ride from Sandy Hook to the U.S. Capitol from April 9 through April 12.

The team will traverse small towns and big cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to raise awareness of the gun violence epidemic and to support common sense gun legislation to reduce gun violence and honor the 20 children and 6 educators killed on December 14, 2012.  "America's bike messengers" will deliver a petition signed by more than 36,000 everyday citizens who want to keep guns off U.S. college campuses.

"The horrific day at Sandy Hook awoke America to our nation's gun epidemic.  No town, city or state is immune," said Monte Frank, Team 26 founder and a Newtown resident.  "The past four years have proven that the desire for common sense gun legislation was not fleeting.  Our annual ride and the thousands of supporters who join us at stops in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC shows that we will not rest until our voices spur our nation's leaders to action."

Team 26 will depart from Newtown, CT's Edmond Town Hall at 8am on April 9 and will participate in eight additional events over the following four days.  Rallies will be led by a Governor, U.S. Congressmen and Congresswomen, state legislators, mayors, gun violence victims, gun violence prevention advocates and many more.

Full details about the ride can be found on the Team 26 website and on the Team 26 Facebook page.

Team 26 Schedule

April 9

• Newtown, CT - Send Off Rally
  When: 8:00
  Where: Edmond Town Hall – 45 Main Street
  Speakers:
  • Patricia Llodra – 1^st Selectwoman (Host)
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal
  • Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
  • Andy Pelosi – Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus
  • Nelba Marquez-Greene / Jimmy Greene – mom and dad of Ana Marquez-Green
  • Ron Pinciaro – Connecticut Against Gun Violence
  • Rev. Mel Kawakami - Newtown United Methodist Church - Benediction
  • Eman Beshtawii, Al Hedaya Islamic Center - Invocation
    
• Partners:
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  • Connecticut Against Gun Violence
  • Greenwich Council Against Gun Violence
  • Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus
  • The Enough Campaign
  • Brady Campaign Southwestern Connecticut Chapter
  • Ben's Bells
  • Sandy Hook Promise
             
• Peekskill, NY
  When: 12pm
  Where: Library Plaza – 4 Nelson Avenue
  Speakers:
  • Janina Bandi – Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayor Frank Catalina
  • Congresswoman Nita Lowey
  • Councilman Andre Rainey
  • Rev. Steve Holton
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
• Partners
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  • New Yorkers Against Gun Violence
  • Brady Campaign New York Chapter
  • Million Moms March
    
• Morristown, NJ – Event 1
  When: 5:30
  Where: Morristown Town Hall Steps – 200 South Street
  Speakers:
  • Mayor Timothy Dougherty – Host
  • Rebecca Feldman - Organizer
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
  • Maura Sherlach – Mary's Fund
  • TBD
• Partners:
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  • Mary's Fund
  • Ceasefire NJ
  • Brady Campaign – NJ Chapter
  • Million Mom March
    
• Morristown, NJ – Benefit for Mary's Fund
  When: 7:00
  Where: Hyatt Morristown 3 Speedwell Avenue

April 10

• Morristown, NJ – Send-off
  When: 8:30
  Where: Hyatt Morristown 3 Speedwell Avenue
  What: NJ Cyclists to join Team 26
  
• Philadelphia, PA
  When: 3:00
  Where: City Hall, North Apron
  Speakers:
  • Mayor Jim Kenney
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
  • William Begg – Team 2
• Partners:
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  • CeaseFirePA

April 11

• University of Delaware
  When: 10:30
  Where: Perkins Student Center – 325 Academy Street, Newark, DE
  Speakers:
  • Governor Jack Markell
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
  • Mayor Polly Sierer
  • Attorney General Matt Denn
  • Delaware House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst
  • Newcastle County Executive Tom Gordon
• Partners:
  • Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  • Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus
  • Bike Delaware
    
• Baltimore, MD
  When: 4:00
  Where: Baltimore City Hall
  Speakers:
  • Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
  • Attorney General Brian Frosh
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
  • William Begg – Team 26
  • Vinny Demarco – Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence
• Partners:
  • Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns

April 12

• Southeast Washington, DC
  When: 1:30
  Where: Faith Presbyterian Church - 4161 S Capitol St SW
  Speakers:
  • Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
  • Nardyne Jeffries
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
    
• The Capitol
  When: 3:00
  Where:  House Triangle
  Speakers:
  • Senator Richard Blumenthal
  • Senator Chris Murphy
  • Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty
  • Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
  • Monte Frank – Team 26
  • Emma Iannini / Sarah Clements – Georgetown Against Gun Violence
• Partners
  • Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
  • Mayors Against Illegal Guns
  • Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus
  • Georgetown Against Gun Violence

SOURCE Team 26

Related Links

http://www.team26.org/