I’m Stephanie, a survivor of the Highland Park mass shooting. Since then I’ve been working to fight for an end to gun violence and mass shootings nationwide. I’m about to ask you for $15 to join our fight. But first, I'll explain why. >>

One year ago, my family and I dressed up in red, white, and blue to celebrate our country at Highland Park, IL’s annual July 4th parade. We watched as the floats filled with smiling children passed by. We clapped to the beat of the drums as the marching band began to play.

And then, the rat-tat-tat of drums was interrupted by another, foreign sound - that of bullets, rapid firing from an AR-15 - spraying indiscriminately into the crowds of children, parents, and grandparents. We heard the screams. We saw the confusion and chaos. And we ran. Luckily, we made it out safely. But many others were not so lucky.

Last year at the Highland Park 4th of July parade, 7 innocent people were murdered by a shooter with an AR-15-style weapon. Their bodies were destroyed, left bloody and unrecognizable by the wreckage of a single assault weapon. 48 others were injured by bullets or shrapnel. A toddler was orphaned, an 8-year-old was paralyzed, and a mother’s unborn child miscarried.

In less than 50 seconds, the shooter fired off 83 rounds that ripped through glass, concrete, bricks, flesh, and bone.

One year ago, my community was ravaged by a mass shooting that has forever changed Highland Park. If it can happen in my community, it can happen anywhere.

Because of my experience and that of so many others across the country, I’m advocating for change at the federal level to ensure that our country can once again be a safer place. A place where we can go to the grocery store, to the theater, to a concert, or to an elementary school without fear.

Our children deserve better. Our families deserve better. We deserve better.

I’m proud to work with BAWN to help elect gun safety champions in government and to ban assault weapons. But we need your help too. We need 850 more gifts in the next 24 hours to hit our goal and support candidates dedicated to preventing another tragedy like the Highland Park shooting. We need your help so that we can honor with action those stolen from us on July 4th, 2022, and in so many other tragic shootings. Can I count on you to chip in $15 now? >>

I’m proud to have joined Sam Schwartz and BAWN in Washington D.C. last month to demand Congress take action to ban assault weapons.

Survivor Sit-In on the U.S. Capitol - June 2023

Please join the fight too. BAWN needs help raising 850 gifts in 24 hours to fuel their efforts to ban assault weapons and replace any lawmaker who stands in their way. Will you rush $15 now to help us continue the fight for a federal assault weapons ban and elect candidates who have the guts to do what’s right? It would mean so much to me to have your support. >>

Chip in $15 now >>

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In gratitude for your support,

Stephanie
Survivor of the Highland Park Shooting and Gun Violence Prevention Advocate