Former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg may have retired from the legislature, but not as an activist.

From her new perch at the Arbor Terrace, an independent senior living community in Teaneck, Weinberg led a rally of grandmothers and great-grandmothers angered by a constant stream of mass shootings and gun violence across the nation – and intent on making some noise.

“We can no longer sit aside while the NRA holds our government hostage,” Weinberg told the group.  “This is a message to our own elected officials, to our congresspeople, and to our US senators – we know you’re on our side, but that’s not enough. You have got to raise your voices. You’ve got to stop legislation until we pass universal background checks.  You have to stop legislation until we ban assault weapons.”

As a legislator, Weinberg was a staunch advocate of universal background checks and assault weapon bans.  In semi-retirement, the former senator is pushing Congress to stop being held “hostage to the most extreme elements in our country.”

“This is a message to our representatives in Washington – we are here.  We’re here with walkers, we’re here with our signs, and we want to hear your voices loud and clear,” she said.  “It’s time for action.”