Laurence Fine is 17 years old and a senior at Ridgewood High School. He has been the leader of Students Demand Action Bergen County since February 2018. He has organized gun violence prevention rallies and mobilized students to register more than 600 voters in Bergen County high schools. He also served as the Student Representative to Ridgewood’s Board of Education. He is a member of the National Training team and was a student trainer at GSU 2019 in Washington, D.C. Laurence is a passionate advocate for gun violence prevention in New Jersey.
Get to know Laurence even more in his Q&A!
Name: Laurence Fine
Pronouns: he/him
Age: 17
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Location: Ridgewood, NJ
School / Students Demand Action Chapter: Ridgewood High School / Students Demand Action Bergen County
What do you hope to pursue after you graduate?
I hope I’ll have the opportunity to travel the world. I want to experience different cultures and learn about how people live. And I know this can definitely influence my perception of politics.
Why is gun violence prevention important to you?
The lack of gun laws arms white supremacist domestic terrorists. Hate crimes have skyrocketed over the past four years, which include the deadliest anti-semitic shooting in US history, the deadliest anti-Latino shooting in US history, and continued racial violence. We need to disarm hate.
What are you most proud of working on as a Students Demand Action volunteer?
I am proud of the impact we were able to make in local elections, which includes registering hundreds of voters and knocking on thousands of doors. I am proud of the marches, rallies, and town halls we organized. And I am proud of all of the students who are engaged with Students Demand Action Bergen County.
What public figure or social justice icon do you most admire and why?
John Lewis. His optimism inspires me to never give up. We must work with other people and within the system, but maintain a broad vision of a political and social revolution. And we need “good trouble.”
If you could only eat one food for a year, what would you pick?
Pizza
What do you do for self care?
I like to watch TV, spend time with family, and get fresh air.
What motivates you to keep going?
It is important to remind ourselves why we do this work. And that’s because people’s lives are on the line. As each day goes on, 100 more Americans die from guns. While federal inaction is frustrating, we must channel that frustration into action.
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