“For every one person speaking to a member of the legislature, we need another ten people bearing witness as a prayerful presence.”

-Bishop Bonnie A. Perry

LOBBBY DAY SUPPORT

If you would like to show your support for those who are lobbying on April 22 for End Gun Violence Michigan in Lansing, we have ways you can help.

Is your strength hospitality? Great! Be part of the Hospitality Team. We need you to help keep the grounds of St. Paul’s tidy, or coordinate and offer refreshments to the attendees.

Are you comfortable being vocal about ending gun violence? Perfect, we need you to hand out flyers, carry signs, and march for the cause.

Are you good at social media, and do you have a lot of followers/friends? We need you on our Social Media Team. Photograph and post, promote and share to your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages to help bring awareness to Lobby Day. #endgunviolencemichigan #egvmi

• Share this Facebook post to spread the word about the April 22nd Lobby Day
• Download and share the April 22nd Lobby Day flyer
• Bills have been introduced to repeal Michigan’s red flag (ERPO) laws. Contact your legislators to demand they STOP HB 4139 & 4140
• Share the sign up form for the April 22nd Lobby Day: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOqlkJwCkLXqvJc19-qTnwgfYgL7cnV91MSjtea87uwCvfrw/viewform

Prayer works! Can’t make it to Lansing? We still need your support. Add a prayer for lobby day into your congregation’s prayers, ask your bible study group or church group for prayers for lobby day, pray at home for lobby day.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Who can I contact at the diocesan office with questions not listed here? For questions not listed here, please reach out to Carmen Piggins by phone at (313) 833-4437 or by email at cpiggins@edomi.org.

Where should I meet with the group? St. Paul’s, Lansing is our Episcopal HQ for Lobby Day. You can find the Hospitality Team there and they’ll direct you on where to go; 218 W Ottawa St, Lansing, MI 48933.

How long should I plan to be there? If you’re signed up for one of the support teams, plan to be there by 9:00 a.m. until about 4:00 p.m.

Is there parking? We recommend parking in one of the parking structures near the Capitol building.

• • • • Closest Parking Garage to St. Paul’s (0.2 miles, 5-minute walk), $6 a day: City of Lansing, North Capitol Ramp, 316 N Capitol Avenue, Downtown, Lansing, MI 48933
    • • Closest Parking Garage to Capitol Building (400 ft, 2-minute walk), $5 a day: Townsend Ramp, 221 Townsend Street, Downtown, Lansing, MI 48933

What should I bring? If you’re planning to be outside, bring a foldable lawn chair, blanket to sit on (or if it’s cold), umbrella, and dress according to the weather. You will be able to go into the St. Paul’s building to shelter from the cold, rain, or snow if needed.

What should I wear? Wear the color orange which is the color of gun violence awareness. We are asking clergy to wear orange stoles. Dress for the weather. We know how unpredictable Michigan is in April! And, wear comfortable shoes and clothing; no need to dress in your Sunday best.

Should I pack a lunch? If you you have dietary restrictions or would like to pack your own lunch, please do. However, a light lunch, snacks, and water will be provided at St. Paul’s.

How will people know we are there to support End Gun Violence Michigan? We will be handing out End Gun Violence Michigan stickers, pins, lawn signs, and signs you can carry in support of the cause.

Will I be meeting with lawmakers? If you register for the lobby day through End Gun Violence Michigan, yes, you will be meeting with law makers. If you would like to meet with lawmakers, please sign up through End Gun Violence Michigan via the button below.

Will I be trained? Yes, several training opportunities are provided by End Gun Violence Michigan on the sign up page.

LOBBY DAY 101: Q&A

What is End Gun Violence Michigan lobbying for? End Gun Violence Michigan is lobbying to make sure that the politicians know where we stand. They will hear from us about the urgent need for safe storage, universal background checks, and banning guns at government buildings. This is an important step. We want to make sure that we exhaust every last conversation with the legislature before we decide to launch a ballot initiative.

What are lobby days?  Lobby days allow your supporters to get in front of and speak directly with lawmakers to share their personal stories. It helps put faces to the issues your organization is advocating for.

What are examples of lobbying? Lobbying examples include meetings and discussions with government representatives, and influencing legislation by negotiating the details of a bill.