Dear friend–
We are in the third week of Black History Month, and while this should be a month of celebration, communities in Texas are facing unprecedented devastation in the aftermath of deadly winter storms.
I am here in Houston, and headlines do not capture the crisis we are facing.
Thousands of Texans are without power and life-saving resources, and the pandemic and increasing rates of gun violence have already left communities bare. This is devastating, particularly for communities of color, and those who were without housing and food before the storms. We are seeing frontline workers who have been saving lives from gun violence without much support or funding now carrying the weight of response to natural disasters. Relief can’t wait. Our communities need resources and investment now.
For more information on how to support from afar, check out this helpful guide from our friends at March for Our Lives Texas.
Our hearts and thoughts are with all of Texas, and we will continue to monitor ways that we can support communities on the ground. If you are looking for ways to support or volunteer, please let us know and we will let you know as opportunities arise.
While many of our lives are stopped and forever altered by this ongoing tragedy, there are many ways to support the ongoing work to keep our communities safe in Texas and around the country. We hope that you will continue to let us know how we can work together to build another world that we know is possible.
Thank you for your continued support at this challenging time,
In solidarity,
Amber Goodwin
Executive Director
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities:
Black History Month
Join us for an Instagram Live Friday, February 26th 2:00pm EST/ 1:00pm CST with David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more Black History Month content, including an empowering series of conversations, educational content, and celebrations.
Monthly Building Community Call: Black History Month Conversation
We are hosting our February Building Community call Tuesday, February 23rd at 3PM EST / 2PM CST.
We will be joined by Shantay Jackson, the Director of the Baltimore Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Oresa Napper-Williams, Founder of Not Another Child and member of the CJAF Speaker’s Bureau, and Keperah Kearse, Director of Wellness at Life Camp, Inc. Our guest speakers will talk about Black leadership in the fight to end gun violence, and elevating healing in our communities.
Volunteer Meetings
We are excited to continue to train and work with communities to get ready for upcoming legislative fights to end gun violence this month. Please join us!
February Volunteer Events
February 24
Texas 6:30 pm CT
https://secure.everyaction.com/-uXQVR0m_UCxpSU7s0abbQ2
February 25
Federal 7:30 pm ET
https://secure.everyaction.com/Z61ZzlbhdE6vlh2rESJK0Q2
Opportunities to Take Action:
CJAF has launched our Action Center where you can regularly take action on our advocacy efforts. Below are the actions we currently have available.
Community Justice Policy Updates:
Federal:
This week, CJAF and our partners on the ground met with Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice and White House Deputy Public Engagement Director Adrian Saenz to discuss the urgent need to invest in community-based violence intervention programs and evidence-based programs to reduce gun violence in our communities. This is an initial meeting, and we will continue to advocate vigorously for critical federal investment.
We thank our partners for their leadership and commitment to pushing our leaders to invest in communities of color and our solutions.
Washington, DC:
Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a new order Wednesday that declared gun violence a public health crisis. The order pledges $15 million to a new initiative aimed at decreasing violence in neighborhoods of color.
Florida:
Policymakers for Peace member State Senator Shevrin Jones (D) introduced SB 836, creating an Urban Core Gun Violence Task Force and the Florida Firearm Violence Reduction Pilot Program. The Task Force would investigate systemic failures and causes of crime and gun violence in disproportionately impacted communities, and the Pilot Program would fund evidence-based gun violence reduction strategies.
Senator Jones also introduced SB 1052, a bill to repeal Florida's "stand your ground" law. Representative Yvonne Hayes Hinson introduced companion legislation in the House, HB 6063.
Maryland
The House of Delegates voted to override Gov. Hogan's veto of SB 708. The legislation provides $3.6 million for community-based violence prevention initiatives. In 2020 during the last session, CJAF worked alongside violence intervention staff, victim support service providers, frontline advocates and allied organizations to advocate, host briefings, testify at hearings, organize site visits, strategy calls and engagement of Senate and House leaders about this critical funding. This is a huge victory!
Texas:
News of Interest:
The Leslie Marshall Show:”Taking Action to Shrink the Criminal Legal System”
Advocacy Director Greg Jackson joined Leslie Marshall to talk about the community approach to gun violence that goes beyond over-policing our communities.
The White House met with some gun violence prevention groups, but not groups led by people of color. Groups are concerned that proposed strategies to end gun violence have been focused on gun control and policing, not comprehensive public health solutions. On gun violence prevention in communities of color: "it has to be a comprehensive strategy that doesn’t just focus on the hardware." — CJAF Advocacy Director Greg Jackson
NBC News: Amid wave of violence, Asian Americans, Black communities build coalitions
As violence against Asian-Americans continues to increase, Black-led groups have joined Asian-led groups to form coalitions that tackle how white supremacy fuels violence for all people of color.
Washington Post: Homicides rose 30 percent in 2020, survey of 34 U.S. cities finds
The report found 1,268 more deaths than in 2019, and only four of the 34 cities saw declines in homicides last year, including Baltimore.
The city of Denver began deploying health care workers instead of police for mental health calls, and this approach has saved lives.
Associated Press: 1 dead, 4 injured in shooting at Minnesota health clinic
A shooter opened fire at a Minnesota health clinic. One nurse was killed, four others were injured. While our country is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic of gun violence continues to threaten our communities.
Fifty Bandz, a 21-year-old Black trans woman, has become the latest transgender woman of color killed by gun violence. She was killed by her ex-partner, who many had said had been abusive. Our thoughts are with her family and community.
ABC-13: 3 teens shot during night of citywide gun violence across Houston
At least eleven people were shot since last week across the Houston, TX area, including three teenagers. Our communities are suffering from two pandemics and need investment in systemic solutions.
The Palm Beach Post: Gun bill seeks to repeal Florida's Stand Your Ground law ... again
Thank you to Policymakers for Peace member Shevrin Jones for his leadership in working to repeal FL's dangerous stand your ground law.
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