Friends—

I am writing to you from the city I love and live in—Washington D.C—after visiting the White House yesterday for one of the most critical moments in the history of the movement to end gun violence.

This is also the city that I was shot in 8 years ago. When I was laying in the hospital bed recovering, I never believed history like today would happen. 

Yesterday, our founder Amber Goodwin and I were humbled to be in the rose garden in solidarity with fellow leaders of color in our movement including Erica Ford, Dr. Chico Tillmon, Eddie Bocanegra and Fatimah Loren-Dreier, as President Biden called gun violence a “public health crisis” and announced bold Executive Actions to address gun violence.

The Executive Actions announced yesterday are in addition to the $5 billion commitment that President Biden announced late last week. This commitment was proposed by our #FundPeace campaign leaders and  Invest in Us Coalition  members, many of whom were at the White House today. 

The total of President Biden’s commitments and Executive Actions provide the opportunity to access over $10 billion in funding for community violence prevention and intervention funding.

You read that right — $10 billion for communities of color most impacted by gun violence. 

Yesterday’s historic announcement comes after years of working to push our leaders to prioritize gun violence in communities of color, and at the heels of meetings with the White House after the launch of our 100 days petition. We are proud to say that in less than 100 days, President Biden has already met three of our four demands.

It’s been many years since I survived gun violence, and yesterday President Biden acknowledged my activism despite the reminders of trauma this work entalls, and that of the many survivors and families of those experienced as activists. CJAF Speaker’s Bureau member, and Founder of Not Another Child, Oresa Napper-Williams stood in the rose garden, holding the photo of her son Andrell who was killed by gun violence. 

Yesterday’s event was historic because survivors, their families, and leaders from the front lines of ending gun violence were not only in attendance, but helped shape the President’s actions.

Today we celebrate, but this victory is not the end of our fight. In case you missed it yesterday, here are FOUR quick ways you can help today:

• Thank President Biden: Join us in tweeting thank you to President Biden, for this week's Executive Actions and for committing to working to end gun violence.
• Urge Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer to support the American Jobs Plan: Join us in calling on our Congressional leaders to swiftly pass President Biden’s American Jobs Plan, which includes the critical $5 billion investment in community violence prevention and intervention programs. 
• Volunteer with our team: Fighting to end gun violence is a daily opportunity to make change. Sign up here! 
• Text for updates: Text “JUSTICE” to 79606 for up-to-date ways to take action, and information on work happening in your local community.

We thank President Biden, Vice-President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration for their partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to build a safer world for our communities. 

Another world is possible, and a new day is here. Thank you for helping make history. 

In solidarity,

Greg Jackson Jr. 

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