Dear friend–
We want to take a moment to recognize that it has been a very difficult two weeks.Our thoughts are with the families and communities of all impacted by the shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, and also the communities impacted by gun violence everyday. Since our last newsletter, our country has endured over eight mass shootings, totaling more than 100 mass shootings in 2021 so far. These shootings are not isolated, but rather a pattern of the gun violence crisis in this country—a crisis that disproportionately impacts communities of color.
On Friday we were proud to join other national gun violence prevention organizations in a public event demanding President Biden take urgent action to combat gun violence in response to the series of mass shootings and increasing rates of gun violence this year. Earlier this year, we called on the Biden-Harris Administration to commit to concrete action in first 100 days, and in the past week we were featured in The New York Times, Politico, Slate, Axios, and The Trace for our work to demand action from leaders to combat the growing public health crisis of gun violence.
Last week, we co-launched the Fund Peace Campaign with our partner organizations, including Life Camp Inc., Not Another Child, and the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention. As a first action, we are asking for our elected leaders to invest $5.3 billion to fund community-driven solutions to address violence in cities most impacted by the public health crisis of gun violence. You can learn more about Fund Peace here.
We know that action must be taken on all levels of government, which is why this week, we launched the Texas INVEST IN US Coalition, which seeks to secure statewide resources and support for community-led solutions to gun violence.The Texas INVEST IN US Coalition will recruit community leaders and elected officials to address the root causes of violence, write and support legislation in Texas, and educate the public on why investment in community-based violence prevention strategies is critical. We need your support, even if you don’t live in Texas. Learn more about our Texas INVEST IN US Coalition here.
Thank you for playing such a major role on this journey.
In solidarity,
Greg Jackson
Advocacy Director
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities:
Building Community Call
This Tuesday, March 30th at 3PM EST / 2PM CST, we are hosting our monthly Building Community Call. We will be joined by guest speakers who will talk about their work on the frontlines, and on the invaluable leadership of people of color in the fight to end gun violence. Sign up today.
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!
April Volunteer Events
We are excited to announce a series of events centered around obtaining a public hearing for Texas HB 1580, The Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Act (CVIP). Below are the many opportunities throughout the month of April you will have to demand #ANewSolutionTX. Please sign up and volunteer with us!
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:
On March 15th, CJAF joined various Black and Brown-led gun violence prevention organizations to launch the Fund Peace Campaign. This campaign demands $5 billion in federal funding to invest in community-based violence intervention and prevention strategies. Checkout the letter and campaign at www.fundpeacenow.com.
On March 23, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on gun violence titled "Constitutional and Common Sense Steps to Reduce Gun Violence." CJAF provided a written statement for the record.
California:
The Los Angeles City Council approved $2.15 million to support community peace ambassadors, according to the Urban Peace Institute. The funding comes through the efforts of the Los Angeles Intervention Coalition, a collection of 15 gang intervention agencies and groups fighting for a $54 million investment in community-based violence prevention.
Delaware:
Earlier this year, State Senator Marie Pinkey introduced S.C.R. 8, a resolution declaring gun violence as a public health crisis. The resolution immediately passed in the Senate 13-8, and is now awaiting consideration in the House.
Maryland:
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott recently released a draft of the city's new comprehensive public safety strategy, led by the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, and its Director, Shantay Jackson. The plan is in draft form because city leaders want resident feedback to help shape the strategy.
Pennsylvania:
State Representatives Greg Rothman and Donna Bullock are sponsoring H.B. 696, bi-partisan legislation to create the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant (VIP) Grant Program. The bill includes an appropriation of $10 million per year for three years.
CJAF in the news:
We were proud to join our partners for a national call to action to demand that President Biden take direct action to combat gun violence, in response to the series of mass shootings and increasing rates of gun violence this year.New York Times: We’ve Spent Over a Decade Researching Guns in America. This Is What We Learned
"We must dismantle this trauma-violence cycle, and the first step is centering gun trauma within the gun debate and addressing gun violence accordingly." Our By Design campaign was mentioned in this powerful piece on centering the trauma of gun violence.
Politico: Biden wants quick action on gun violence, even as he moves slowly
“Someone who loses their life in Chicago is just as valuable as someone who loses their life in Boulder, Colorado, and the pain and the trauma is no different. This is not just an inner city problem, this is not just a mass shooting problem, but this crisis is touching folks in so many unique ways across the country.” Our Advocacy Director Greg Jackson spoke on the importance of framing gun violence prevention as a program that impacts our communities every day.
POLITICO Playbook: What reporters are planning to ask Biden at today’s big presser
“FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: More than a dozen gun control advocacy groups representing survivors of mass shootings, young people and communities of color affected by gun violence are demanding a meeting with Biden in the wake of recent mass shootings. In a letter sent to Biden today, the groups urge him to issue executive actions, set aside money, and craft a strategy to engage Congress as part of his plan to curtail gun violence.” CJAF joined fellow gun violence prevention groups in demanding action be taken before the White House joint address to Congress.
Slate: The Way We Think About “Mass Shootings” Ignores Many Black Victims
“The fear that a lot of Americans are struggling with and facing right now is the fear that people in our neighborhoods have been living with and navigating for decades. And I think the media has written off our communities. Through their consistent criminalization and dehumanization of the people we’ve lost, they have become part of the problem.” Advocacy Director Greg Jackson on how media should be covering gun violence as a daily problem, not one that is exclusive to mass shootings that grab national attention.
The Trace: The Way We Think About Mass Shootings Ignores Many Black Victims
"The fear [of gun violence] that a lot of Americans are struggling with and facing right now is the fear that people in our neighborhoods have been living with and navigating for decades.” Our Advocacy Director Greg Jackson spoke to The Trace about how gun violence is an every day challenge that impacts our communities beyond mass shootings.
Axios: Gun control groups join fight against filibuster
“Greg Jackson, a community organizer who leads the Community Justice Action Fund's national advocacy efforts, said the filibuster is 'part of the reason why gun violence has continued to rage forward without the solutions we need.'"News of Interest:
Yahoo News:8 injured, 2 dead in multiple Virginia Beach shootings
Two people are dead and eight wounded following three separate shooting incidents in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
USA Today: Boulder grocery store rampage follows spike in mass shootings during 2020
A USA Today analysis of Gun Violence Archive statistics showed that “mass shootings rose from 417 in 2019 to 611 in 2020, including 95 incidents in June 2020 alone."
CBS17:Bull City United calls for peace as shooting incidents continue to plague Durham
“We have seen significant improvements in this group that has come together." Rates of gun violence are up in Durham, but our partners at Bullcity United have continued to do life saving work.
CNN: The Colorado attack is the 7th mass shooting in 7 days in the US
“The mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday took place less than a week after eight people were killed in a series of attacks on spas in Atlanta.”
CBS Chicago: 2 Dead After 15 Struck By Gunfire In Mass Shooting At Party In Park Manor
Fifteen people were shot, and two were killed in a mass shooting in Chicago’s South Side.
Teen Vogue: Recent Rise in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Doesn’t Mean Anti-Asian Racism Is New
"Violence against Asian Americans is not just isolated violent attacks by bad actors, it is also a system of policy and a legacy of dehumanization." This powerful op-ed argues that the horrific shootings in Atlanta, and the rise of violence against Asians and Asian-Americans, is part of a long history of racism and anti-Asian violence in the United States.
New York Times: Indianapolis Man Killed 4 After Fight Over Stimulus Check, Police Say
Four people were shot and killed in a domestic violence incident, and a 7-year-old was among those killed. Our thoughts are with the families impacted.
Planet Trans: Transgender woman Diamond “Kyree” Sanders murdered in Cincinnati
We mourn the loss of Diamond Kyree Sanders, a Black transgender woman who was killed by gun violence in Cincinnati earlier this month. She is the 11th known trans person killed this year. Our thoughts are with her family and community.
NBC News: There were 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents, mostly against women, in past year
“New data has revealed over the past year, the number of anti-Asian hate incidents — which can include shunning, slurs and physical attacks — is greater than previously reported. And a disproportionate number of attacks have been directed at women.”
Chicago Sun Times: 4-year-old boy shot in Washington Park
A 4-year-old boy was shot last week in Washington Park on the South Side. This year is proving to be just as deadly for our youth of color.
Texas Tribune: Not all emergencies are priorities in the Texas Capitol
In 2019 and 2020, 110 people were killed in mass shootings in Texas and another 266 were injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an online database of incidents of gun violence.
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