March For Our Lives - Bismarck

07/31/2018

Update on Mayor Steve Bakken’s Town Hall:

As you may know, newly elected Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken attended the Road to Change event on June 28th. While there, the Mayor was asked if he would commit to holding a town hall within the next month and he agreed. He later spoke to us about helping to organize the event. We identified an available date that would work and secured a venue. Bismarck Public Schools and Legacy High School administration were generous enough to allow us to hold the town hall in the Legacy High School Auditorium on August 9th.

However, it appears that there is a misunderstanding. While corresponding via email, this statement from the Mayor was shared with us: “I agreed to be a part of a town hall, in any form, and tasked the students to organize the event and they agreed to do so. The Mayor said his only role is to help facilitate a discussion.”
Here is an additional statement about his vision for the event: “As the Mayor said in his prior response, he is seeking a relevant, quality, open community conversation with a panel of local community experts that work with youth; students, teachers, parents, and community members, in a format where they can engage with one another to discuss ideas for community answers that foster a safer environment for students while they’re being educated.”

The intention when asking the Mayor to hold a town hall did not imply him simply acting as a facilitator for others to speak. The goal was to give Bismarck residents the opportunity to ask the Mayor questions directly and share their concerns so the Mayor could be better informed about the issues surrounding our community. The Mayor does not wish to proceed with this. His idea about a community forum/panel discussion is a great idea and should be pursued in the future, but we currently do not have the time or resources to do so and will soon be heading off to college.

With that being said, no town hall will be taking place on August 9th. We will inform you on the details if the community forum/panel discussion occurs on a later date. Remember that our representatives work for us, and we all must strive to keep them accountable. Vote on November 6th, encourage your friends and family to get engaged in politics with you, and participate in activities with your political party or other activist groups in your community!

06/29/2018

The Road to Change Bismarck Town Hall yesterday was energetic, insightful, and full of hope. We hope that (from current estimates) the nearly 300 brave, open-minded people that attended the event came away with a new understanding about gun violence and a motivation to take action. The front page of the Bismarck Tribune this morning (pictured below) features the town hall, but right above it is a story about yet another shooting that involved a gun. Preventing the top story is what the bottom story is all about. Thank you to all who came to show your support. And thank you to the Parkland students who have opened yourselves up to harassment but are choosing the courageous path of leading a youth-led movement to stop senseless gun violence.

This fight for change does not stop now. Our newly elected mayor, Steve Bakken, was kind enough to hear from our perspectives and commit to holding a town hall for all Bismarck residents within the next month. We have agreed to work together to put on this community discussion and will update you as more information becomes available. Take the inspiration and passion we all saw from you and use it to make the city of Bismarck accountable to you, the people.

Photo credit to Jimmy Dahman, Executive Director of the Town Hall Project

06/25/2018

We want to meet you! RSVP for events at marchforourlives.com/tour

04/10/2018

Don’t just focus on national elections, local issues have a significant impact on our lives!

Candidates for Bismarck city elections are set.

04/02/2018

Photos of March For Our Lives Bismarck at the North Dakota State Library on Saturday, March 24, 2018.
Special thanks to Bill Willis, Sarah Vadnais, Lauren Richards, Eichelle Marie, and Trina Kaiser for the photos!

03/25/2018

Today, we joined over 800 marches in all 50 states and every continent on Earth. We rallied on the State Capitol and made our voices loud and clear: We won't stand by while gun violence plagues our schools. We put our enthusiasm and convictions on full display for our representatives and all of North Dakota.

The March For Our Lives movement did not stop when we all drove home, and it will not stop when we go to sleep tonight. We must ride this momentum to the ballots this November and demonstrate the true power of the people: voting.

Text "STUDENTS" to 64433 to join Students Demand Action or "READY" to connect with your local chapter of Moms Demand Action.

***Please continue sending in your awesome photos as we are making a photo album to remember this powerful event and the brave people who attended.

Photo credit to Bill Willis

03/24/2018

Katie Tschosik’s speech and Liz Schneider’s Speech

03/24/2018

Taylor Toso’s Speech

03/23/2018

Weather Update:
Due to inclement weather, there will no longer be a march around the Capitol Grounds at the event; however, speakers are still planned. We also plan to take pictures of attendees holding signs and a large group picture with a March For Our Lives banner to spread on social media.

We will still meet at the State Library steps at 1pm. Please park in the DOT parking lot.

Weather can't stop this powerful nationwide movement. This Saturday, hundreds of marches are planned around the world and we intend to be a part of history. We will make our presence known and our voices will be heard. Safety is the first priority, but if you are able to come we hope to see you there.

Check back for updates!

03/22/2018

Our poster making party was a success! You’ll see us and these posters at the Capitol this Saturday @ 1 PM! @ North Dakota State Capitol

03/22/2018

Route Update:
Following a lineup of speakers beginning at 1:00pm, the march will start at approximately 1:30pm at the State Library steps and head south towards the sidewalk parallel to Boulevard Ave. The march will proceed with a counterclockwise loop around the State Capitol before finishing back at the State Library steps for closing remarks. Please refer to the image below.

03/20/2018

Come join us in a poster-making party this Thursday from 4-5:30pm at 1902 E Divide Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501. Materials will be provided but feel free to bring your own (and there may be snacks and refreshments).
Please comment below or message us if you’re interested!