Representative Lucy McBath ran for office in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District after her son, Jordan Davis, was shot and killed at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida in 2012 by a man who thought his music was playing too loud. She ran for office—and won—and has since inspired others to advocate for a safer future. La’Shay Black, now a Texas volunteer with Moms Demand Action, is one of many inspired by former Moms Demand Action volunteer, Representative McBath.
La’Shay first researched the organization after seeing Rep. McBath win her Congressional seat. “I greatly admire the way she channeled her grief and rage into political action,” La’Shay expressed. Now La’Shay has been involved with Moms Demand Action for three years as a volunteer to advocate for a safer future for her children and yours.
“I know that most people with children love their children and want to keep them safe as much as I love my children and want to keep them safe,” La’Shay shared. “That’s why I always say I’m fighting for all of our children.”
When La’Shay first joined Moms Demand Action, she wasn’t certain what she would focus her volunteer work on. But she has found her voice on social media, inspiring others with her unique perspective on Twitter—and has even gone on to inspire others as a grassroots social media trainer, inspiring others across the movement to use their voices to effect change.
“Everyone is so welcoming. I love the women in my local group. I love connecting with other members on social media,” La’Shay said. “I know I’m one of many in this fight against gun violence and I know that together we are making a difference.
“I know that nothing worthwhile comes easily. We fought hard for this victory, and I’m willing to continue the fight.”
Since the Uvalde mass shooting in May 2022, La’Shay has seen growth in the work she has dedicated years to. Volunteers have been making legislative progress across the country, the number of new people joining her local group in Texas has increased, and nationally, the progress is stronger than ever.
“I feel like things have reached a tipping point after Uvalde. I think Americans were upset and confused that more wasn’t done after Sandy Hook. And now, another school shooting in which a large number of elementary-aged children were murdered has happened again,” she expressed. “I think we all feel that we didn’t do enough after the first tragedy and that more are determined to ensure change happens now.”
Now that Congress has passed its first meaningful gun safety law in nearly 26 years with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, volunteers like La’Shay are happy with the progress, but know that the work does not stop here.
“I know that nothing worthwhile comes easily. We fought hard for this victory, and I’m willing to continue the fight,” La’Shay said.
