John,

7 years ago, today, my life was changed forever.

Initially, I wasn’t scheduled to work, but a late change in the schedule meant I had to cover for one of my partners. At the time I was also processing what had dominated the news the past few days — the shooting deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling.

But fate stepped in. Instead of spending the night at home with my wife and daughter, I headed back up to the hospital as the trauma surgeon on duty.

On July 7, 2016, a Black sniper ambushed fourteen police officers providing security for a peaceful demonstration in downtown Dallas, Texas. And John, seven of the officers were sent to my trauma center.

Our team at Parkland Hospital treated those seven gunshot victims — three of whom were critically-wounded. We were unable to save those critically-wounded officers so I had to do something I’ve done countless times before. I changed out of my bloody scrubs, put on my white coat, and gave the devastating news no grieving family member should have to hear.

As the leader of the trauma team at a Dallas hospital that evening, I became the only surgeon in history to operate on multiple on-duty police officers victimized in a mass shooting. The shooting became the worst loss of life for US law enforcement since 9/11 and shattered all my attempts to keep my head down and focus only on the bodies in front of me. Soon, my comfortable life of anonymity disintegrated, forcing me to navigate a new reality as a public figure — a life I did not seek, did not want, and for which I was ill-prepared.

7 years on, I think about that night every day. About the chain of events it set into motion. How it took me into public service and activism. How it landed me in the viewing gallery of the United States Senate when the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act was passed. How it guided me to where I am today, running for Congress.

I am proud of the strides we have made as a country over the past 7 years, but I tell you now we have more work to do. If you agree with me, will you join me in honoring the memory of all those who lost their lives to gun violence by adding your name to my petition?
 

Dr. Brian Williams for Congress
PO Box 180725
Dallas, TX 75218
United States

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