The Northampton Human Rights Commission wholeheartedly supports students from Northampton High School and all the area students who plan to join them for the March for Our Lives Saturday as they advocate for sensible gun regulations that will save lives.
We are an all-volunteer commission charged with promoting the concepts and ideals espoused in the United Nations International Declaration of Human Rights. Adopted in 1948, the declaration articulates a vision for human rights around the world. We believe Article 26 of this document, which states in part: “Everyone has the right to an education,” relates the International Declaration of Human Rights to the upcoming march. Section 2 of this article states: “Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
Certainly a “fundamental freedom” means the freedom to engage in educational pursuits free from the threats posed by irresponsible gun laws that place false ideas about the protections contained in the Second Amendment above the basic right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We applaud steps taken recently by large retails shops which have ceased sales of automatic weapons, whose sole purpose is to claim human lives.
We find the students mobilizing this weekend all over the country — with large-scale marches in our national and state capitals — to be a great source of inspiration.
The members of the Northampton Human Rights Commission are in solidarity with them. Many of us will join the march Saturday from Northampton High School to City Hall following right behind these students. Northampton High School students, not only are we are with you, we’ve got your backs.
The Pioneer Valley March for Our Lives commences at noon March 24 from Northampton High School. Join us in supporting our students.
Karen Bellavance-Grace
Northampton
Laurie Loisel
Northampton
The writers are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Northampton Human Rights Commission that submitted this letter.