Ralph Rodriquez of All You Can Inc. (front) and residents march against social injustice and gun violence.
For Ralph Rodriguez, discussing the topic of gun violence is extremely important, because it’s one that hits home for him.
Rodriguez, founder of All You Can Inc., has lost friends to gun violence and knows the impact that the issue has on the community.
“It’s not too taboo to talk about,” said Rodriguez, who is also a Harrisburg City Council member. “It’s our current reality, and we have to address it.”
On Friday, All You Can Inc. and Be a Man Inc. held their third annual March Against Social Injustice and Gun Violence, along with a panel discussion. In the morning, a group gathered at the state Capitol steps for the march, which led them to the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center for a town hall event.
The first march took place in 2020 around the time of the death of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter rallies. Hundreds of people showed up to the march, including Gov. Tom Wolf and Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter.
Ralph Rodriguez speaks at the town hall event at the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center.
While Friday’s crowd was smaller, Rodriguez and other speakers stressed the importance of the event, despite the number of attendees.
“Gun violence is a big deal, not just locally, but nationally,” he said. “Gun violence has been very prevalent in our nation lately, but it is not a new thing. We have to pass on the message of positivity and what it looks like to come together.”
Some speakers talked about ways to address the issue, such as through increasing gun restrictions, using the power of your vote and increasing access to community resources and social services.
“We will never stop fighting for our community,” said Shavonnia Corbin Johnson, political director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee. “From the rocks of a damaged community, a flower can bloom, and it must.”
To learn more about All You Can Inc., visit their website. For more information about Be a Man Inc., visit their website.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
