Thursday's Gun Violence Protest At Rep. Zeldin's Office: Details

PATCHOGUE, NY — A group of Long Islanders plan to protest gun violence Thursday at U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin's office in Patchogue after 31 people were killed in two mass shootings over the weekend.

The protest, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will be in front of Zeldin's main office at 31 Oak St. in Patchogue.

Skyler Johnson, 19, the event's organizer, said they expect 100 to 150 people. However, with the rally coinciding with the popular "Alive After Five" festival, expected to draw 20,000 people, the number could be considerably higher.

"We want to keep the conversation on gun violence open after the media moves on," Johnson told Patch. "While New York has strict gun laws, our representative takes money from the NRA and votes against common sense bills that are generally bipartisan. We want to make it clear to him that we will hold him accountable for his inaction."

On Saturday, a 21-year-old rifle-wielding gunman, who posted a hate-filled manifesto online, opened fire in a Wal Mart in El Paso, Texas, killing 22 and wounding 26.

Hours after the shooting, a 24-year-old gunman dressed in body armor carrying an assault weapon began shooting in the entertainment district in Dayton, Ohio, killing nine and injuring 27.

On Twitter, Zeldin called the shooters "mentally ill people," saying "it's a much larger issue that must not only be discussed, but actually dealt with somehow with success."

The rally's speakers include Johnson, Talat Hamdani, Andrea Stolz, Will Ferraro, Nancy Goroff, Perry Gershon, Steven Kramer, and Shoshana Hershkowitz.

When asked whether they’re concerned about clashing with counter-protestors, Johnson said, "Potentially."

"The protest spread faster than any of us anticipated," said Johnson. "The Alive After Five event will take place tonight, meaning there might be people in the crowd who are not sympathetic to the cause."

Johnson added "there's not much we can do" in regards to taking precautions, but they plan to keep the protesters off Main Street to "avoid confrontation."

Dan Hampton contributed reporting.