Spartan Sunday held Feb. 19, 2023, along the Red Cedar River brought out people offering mom hugs, dad jokes, dog kisses, homemade cookies, pizza and so much more. Thousands of people walked campus, many delivering flowers to The Rock. (Alice Dreger for ELi)

Protests, Other Events Scheduled in Reaction to Shooting at MSU

One week after the Monday, Feb. 13 mass shooting on the Michigan State University campus that left three students dead and put five others in the hospital, the community continues to organize ways to facilitate healing and calls of action for gun reform.  A variety of events and activities are scheduled on and off campus throughout the week.  MSU’s student newspaper, The State News, has been providing ongoing up-to-date coverage of planned events and how the university and community are dealing with the aftermath of the shootings.

Today

A group called Action Before Attendance and MSU students organized a strike over having to return to class today [Feb. 20], according to The State News. An Instagram post about the event said it is being held because many students were off campus during the Wednesday, Feb. 15 vigil and it is important to help the returning students heal.

Playmakers is inviting the community to come together in support of their MSU family and friends and take part in a 5K run at 5 p.m. today. According to the Playmakers Facebook page, participants will meet in the store’s  Munson community room and head out on a marked 5K course. A rolling start will last until 6 p.m. Playmakers said, “Please join us in wearing green and white if you’d like!”

Also today,  a sit-in protest at the Michigan Capitol building was set for 1 p.m. The protest was organized by Maya Manuel, the same MSU student who organized a similar protest Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Capitol. While this event will already be underway when ELi publishes this article, it is noteworthy that David Hogg, a prominent activist against gun violence who helped found March For Our Lives, was slated to speak. Hogg posted about the event on his Twitter page. Hogg is a survivor of the 2018 shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Tuesday

Michigan State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou, whose district includes part of East Lansing, is holding a listening session Tuesday [Feb. 21.] at Edgewood United Church, 469 N Hagadorn Road, East Lansing, from 3-7 p.m. All East Lansing residents and MSU students are welcome to share their thoughts and ideas for changes the state legislature should pursue regarding gun safety, Tsernoglou’s team said in an email.

MSU students will hold another candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the MSU Rock on Farm Lane, according to The State News. An Instagram post about the event said it is being held because many students were off campus during the Wednesday, Feb. 15 vigil and it is important to help the returning students heal.

Wednesday

Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is holding a protest at the Capitol from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday [Feb. 22], according to The State News. The group is holding the event to urge lawmakers to pass legislation that requires background checks, secure storage of firearms and extreme risk protection orders, a web page dedicated to the event says.

Counseling services to be offered

Counseling services will continue to be offered to community members and MSU staff and students throughout the week. The Hannah Community Center will offer services Monday through Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. Services will be available Tuesday through Friday at the East Lansing Public Library from noon to 5:30 p.m. Counselors and therapy dogs will be made available during the events.

A comprehensive list of supportive resources for staff, faculty, students and families, as well as FAQs, was sent out by university officials and can be found here. Specific crisis resources for students can be found here and for employees here. Families of MSU students are invited to join this Facebook group, which regularly posts official information and updates.