Hundreds gather for south Minneapolis march in show of unity, hope

Katie Galioto, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Sep 1, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS — Hundreds of people gathered at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on Monday afternoon for a march described as a show of unity, community and hope in the wake of the Wednesday shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church that killed two children and wounded 21 other people.

Marchers also called for tougher gun control measures, urging state lawmakers to take up the matter in a special session.

Gov. Tim Walz on Friday said he was working to drum up support for the effort, though any statewide changes to gun laws would likely face an uphill battle in the divided Legislature.

In a speech at kicking off the march, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey reiterated calls he made Thursday to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines.

“What I see right now is not just a city that is united in grief, this is a city that is united in action,” Frey said.

“If the states or the feds are either unwilling or unable to get it done, give us in Minneapolis the ability to do it ourselves,” he added.

Marchers planned a 2.5 mile trek to Minneapolis’ Lynhurst Park, which was the setting of a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening that drew a massive crowd to the ballfields where neighborhood children typically play.

In the five days since the shooting, shows of support for the Annunciation community have come from near and far.

A growing memorial sits outside the church. Neighbors tied ribbons in the school’s colors, blue and green, to street poles throughout south Minneapolis. Donations poured in for the families of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, who were killed, as well as the families of those injured and those who witnessed the tragedy.

A gaggle of seventh-grade Annunciation students marched the entire route at the front of the group. They were surprised to see so many people show up to support their school, said Nick, 12.

“It’s really showing the message of hope,” his friend, Harry, said. Parents had told the boys to only use their first names in media interviews.

“And showing that we can come together,” said John, 13.

Sara Dornisch, 53, said she grew up in the local Catholic community. While marching on a lakeside trail, she held a sign saying: “Spoiler alert! It’s the guns.”

“Even conservative, Catholic people are getting behind the idea that we need common-sense gun control,” she said.