The Queens chapter of the Million Mom March Foundation has been planning a day in the park with a kick this year as they prepare to mark Mother’s Day…
By Kathianne Boniello
One Queens group thinks it has the perfect gift for Mother’s Day 2001: a spring day spent in the park.
The Queens chapter of the Million Mom March Foundation has been planning a day in the park with a kick this year as they prepare to mark Mother’s Day with a picnic-style event calling for an end to gun violence.
Joan Gold, a Little Neck mother and president of the borough’s Million Mom March chapter, said the picnic will serve as a forum for survivors of gun violence.
“It’s their day,” Gold said of the Million Mom March picnic set for May 13 in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
“Give your mother a very special gift,” Gold said of this year’s holiday. “Instead of sitting in a restaurant with a wilting flower come out for the safety of our children. We can make a difference.”
Last year on Mother’s Day hundreds of thousands of mothers and their families from across the country journeyed to Washington, D.C. for a march in support of what the group describes as “common sense gun control.”
The Queens delegation sent between 2,000 and 3,000 people to the nationwide march last year. In the past year the group has held voter registration drives, hosted a candidates’ night, and conducted a candlelight vigil outside the Wendy’s fast food restaurant in Flushing where five workers were shot to death execution style in May 2000.
This year the Queens chapter of the Million Mom March Foundation will join others around the country that are also marking Mother’s Day with special events.
The Flushing Meadows-Corona Park picnic will feature music, face painting, dance troupes, speakers, clowns, food, and information about the Million Mom March agenda, Gold said.
A host of politicians was slated to attend, she said, including Borough President Claire Shulman, state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), state Sen. Dan Hevesi (D-Forest Hills), state Assemblywoman, borough president candidate Audrey Pheffer and mayoral candidates Mark Green and Alan Hevesi.
On its web site, www.millionmommarch.com, the organizers of the group describe their mission as one of “educating our children and our country about the life-threatening danger of guns.”
“While we acknowledge that guns may be necessary for hunting, law enforcement, and national security,” the web site said, “the proliferation of firearms intended for one purpose only — killing another human being — has become untenable.”
Anyone looking for information about the movement can go to the group’s web site www.millionmommarch.com.
Those seeking more information on the Mother’s Day 2001 picnic or who would like to ask questions or join the Queens chapter can do so by calling (718) 781-4971 or e-mailing MMMQueensmom@aol.com.
People who would like to donate to the group can sent their contributions to: Million Mom March Foundation, P.O. Box 309, 176-25 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365.
Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.
