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. Last year, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the state's ban on assault weapons, in a major win for our movement. But we won’t quit until every state bans assault weapons. Just last month, Trump’s handpicked conservative majority on the Supreme Court STRUCK DOWN the ban on bump stock devices – and his MAGA loyalists in Congress want to stuff the courts with even more judges who will also stand in the way of gun safety legislation. It’s clear that our work is far from over. So, I’m about to ask you for $15 to join our fight today by supporting Sam Schwartz and the Tour to Save Democracy. But first, I'll explain why we need your help and why the Tour is so important. >>

Here’s my story, which is but one of thousands and thousands of similar stories experienced by gun violence survivors and victims in the United States each year:

Two years 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.

Two years ago 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.

Two years 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, to an elementary school, or to a parade without fear.

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

I’m proud to work with BAWN and the Tour to Save Democracy 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 help the Tour. And in turn, the Tour will be traveling across the country to support candidates in swing districts 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? Contributions help cover the costs of the Tour, like gas and food. >>

I’m proud to have joined Sam Schwartz and BAWN in Washington D.C. in June 2023 to demand Congress take action to ban assault weapons.

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

And now I’m proud to support Sam and the Tour to Save Democracy ahead of their launch on July 12th.

The Tour to Save Democracy is covering over 4,400 miles and visiting 20 swing districts to rally Gen Z voters around the gun safety Democrats running to unseat the spineless, vulnerable Republicans like those who BLOCKED the vote on a federal assault weapons ban that Sam, other survivors, and I fought so hard for at our sit in.

Please join the fight too. The Tour To Save Democracy needs help raising 850 gifts in 24 hours to fuel their efforts to replace any Republican lawmaker who stands in the way of gun safety legislation with a strong Democrat. 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 >>

Chip in $25 now >>

Chip in $50 now >>

Chip in $100 now >>

Chip in another amount now >>

In gratitude for your support,

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