On the weekend of May 5th in NYC, there is a demonstration to try and call off the lurking media attack on gaming culture as a potential cause of tragedies like the VT shooting. From the event page:
Empire Arcadia Inc. will gather as many gamers as they can in New York City at Bryan Park on Saturday May 5th, 2007 at 1pm. There we will protest, morn and show how real gamers play videogames peacefully and responsibly. This demonstration is to show that gamers will not take the blame of this tragic matter but we will do what we can to help put an end to terrible events like this. We reiterate and urge that all leaders of gaming communities, organizations down to the last gamer to set aside 10 hours of this day to pay respect and come together not just as gamers but as HUMAN BEINGS for peace. Bring you Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and Playstation Portables. Bring your favorite games to link up and play with your friends. Tetris, Tekken DR, Mario Kart and more.
Other organizations of their respective communities and locations are urged to follow suit to help in unity and show the world what how responsible real gamers are. Stay tuned for local myspace invites in your region and location for similar events.
“It’s ridiculous how our so called leaders who are suppose to be adults handle matters like this. If that is the case, you might as well have today’s children run this country. I’m tired of the complaining and displacing of blame to tragic stuff like this. Since they will do nothing about it then I guess us gamers will have to. If need be we’ll gather the largest force of gamers on the planet to protest against random violence in schools and in the world period. I wonder at times who is worst the psycho’s doing this crazy stuff or the politicians that want to place blame on a videogame. Disgusting! You politicians want to take on gamers we’ll show you how to play this game."
Want to beat me in Mario Kart DS? I'll be there.