John, this chart doesn’t represent cases of COVID-19. It doesn’t represent the number of demonstrations protesting police brutality. It represents a third epidemic devastating our communities: mass shootings.

There were 95 mass shootings in June 2020—more than any other month since the Gun Violence Archive began collecting data in 2013. The previous record for most mass shootings in a single month was reached just a month earlier, in May 2020, when 60 mass shootings took place across the country.

Let that sink in. Not only did June have a record number of mass shootings, it was more than a 50 percent increase from the previous record, which was set just the month before.

There were more than three mass shootings every day in the month of June. That record was broken despite social distancing guidelines keeping schools and workplaces closed and prohibiting large gatherings.

This is even more proof that the coronavirus pandemic will not stop the gun violence epidemic. We cannot afford to take a break on gun violence prevention. Can you give $5 to help fight this public health crisis?

As horrifying as this mass shooting record is, it also fails to reflect so many types of gun violence—from suicide to police shootings to unintentional shootings—which means it isn’t capturing the full picture of the epidemic. This work is as urgent as ever.

COVID-19 has left many individuals and organizations—including us—struggling to make ends meet. We fell short of our fundraising goal for our annual luncheon, which we count on to support us for the rest of the year. We have to make up that difference for our lifesaving work to continue. Please, give what you can today to help keep our communities safe.

Thank you for your support,
Renée