On Friday, March 23, 2018, as students from across the country prepared to march on Saturday, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined the Rockleigh Jewish Home and the Association of Jewish Aging Services to stand in solidarity and stand against gun violence with members of the greatest generation. Residents of the Rockleigh Jewish Home organized a silent one-minute vigil during which they lit a single candle and recited Kaddish in remembrance of those who lost their lives to senseless gun violence.

“In today’s environment, working together—whether that’s across the aisle, across the country, or across generations—is the only way to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Thank you to the members of the greatest generation who organized Friday’s vigil, many of whom have witnessed and lived through atrocities in their own lives, who are standing up and standing together to move our community forward. I am honored to be here, fighting by your side, every step of the way.”

Gottheimer serves as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, which announced that same Friday that all 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans in the Caucus would support bills designed to protect students, strengthen background checks, invest in studying gun violence, and ban bump stocks. The Problem Solvers Caucus had recently formed a bipartisan working group that has been meeting with local law enforcement officials, parents, teachers, students, gun owners, mental health experts, and other folks to discuss common-sense, bipartisan solutions to stopping gun violence in our schools.

Below: Congressman Josh Gottheimer speaks with residents at the Rockleigh Jewish Home about coming together to keep our children safe.