Series of Meetings with Leaders for Emotion Appeal to End Deadly Driving Epidemic
Law Enforcement & Families of Distracted Driving Make Final Appeal for Hands-Free in Massachusetts
Law Enforcement and Families Affected by Distracted Driving Gather at the Massachusetts State House This Morning in Last Ditch Effort to Advocate for Hands-Free Legislation in Massachusetts to End Deadly Driving Epidemic
WHEN: July 26, 2018 - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
WHERE: Massachusetts State House, 24 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts
OVERVIEW:
Officer Larry Ellison, 32 year-veteran police officer with the Boston Police Department and President of the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement (MAMLEO) and a two-time victim of distracted driving; Tom Brannelly of Norwood, father of Katie Brannelly who was hit by a distracted driver who was texting six years ago, who died 15 months later from complications; Emily Stein, President of Safe Roads Alliance, who lost her father to a distracted driver in 2011; Richard Levitan, President of TextLess Live More, who lost his daughter Merritt Levitan from Milton, MA to a distracted driver in 2013 and community organizer Michael Jacobi Brown are making a last ditch appeal to Massachusetts State Representatives today through a series of meetings, calling for a Hands-Free vote in the House before Tuesday, July 31, the end of the current legislative session.
Alyson Lowell, who’s daughter Gabriella Lowell was killed this summer in Worcester by a distracted driver, was scheduled to attend today’s 11th hour lobby effort but cancelled due to grief. Ms. Lowell shared her story via call-in with WGBH’s Callie Crossley last week. The interview is here: https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2018/07/20/advocates-try-to-beat-the-states-legislative-clock-to-stop-distracted-driving
Lobby Meetings include:
Emily Stein, 617.417.3689, and Richard Levitan, 617.642.5544, will be sharing results from the meetings and taking questions from the Media this afternoon.
