CW: domestic violence, gun violence, and suicide

On this episode of the Liz Speaks Podcast, Liz speaks with Ruth Zakarin – CEO of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence and Chair of Yes for a Safe Massachusetts – about Massachusetts Ballot Question 9, which would stop the gun lobby from repealing the Massachusetts's gun safety laws. Ruth breaks down this ballot question, and why you should vote YES to keep our communities safe. She also discusses the epidemic of gun violence and how experts in the space are responding to tragedy.

Learn more about the Question 9 on Massachusetts Ballot:

https://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Question_9,_Firearm_Regulations_Referendum_(2026)

Learn more about the Yes on 9 campaign: https://www.yesforasafema.com/

Learn More about Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence: https://www.mapreventgunviolence.org/about-us

Norfolk County DA Forums:

https://www.youtube.com/live/b3dZeZ5K0xM

https://lwv-needham.org/district-attorney-candidate-forum/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0z6PBreQAw&t=3779s

You can vote on the ballot initiatives on November 3. Learn about the ballot questions, stay informed, and remember to vote.

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The Liz Speaks Podcast, hosted by Liz Speakman, fosters community by educating about local issues that impact Quincy, MA, and providing opportunities for civic engagement. Each episode will have a call to action, so that you can get involved in our community.

Contact: ⁠lizspeakspodcast@gmail.com⁠

About Liz Speakman

Liz Speakman is a mom of 2 school-aged children and a 17-year Quincy resident who has a demonstrated commitment to community organizing and building power within the community. Liz is the current Executive Director of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, and previously served as the Director of the City of Cambridge’s Community Safety Department and the Regional Organizing Director of the Fair Share Amendment (FSA) Campaign.

Liz’s community engagement in Quincy is robust. From 2020-2024, she served on the Quincy Citywide PTO Executive Committee, advocating for the achievement and delivery of high-quality equitable education for every student in Quincy Public Schools. In 2021, Liz ran for Quincy School Committee, and while she wasn’t elected to office, she used her experience to begin the conversation about low voter turnout in Quincy local elections. From these conversations, she co-founded Quincy Votes!, a 501(c)(3) non-partisan, non-profit organization aimed at boosting civic engagement in Quincy. Liz served as President of the Quincy Votes! board until May 2026.

In her professional and volunteer life, Liz brings passion and experience to creating sustainable change in large systems.

Producer: Liz Speakman

Music: Jon Gorey, ⁠jongorey.com⁠

This program is made possible through the Quincy Access Television (QATV) facilities of the Quincy Telecommunications Corp.

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