Dear friend–
Last week I stood outside the steps of the Capitol building and shared my story of surviving gun violence eight years ago this month. Since I was shot in 2013, over 800,000 people have either been shot or killed by guns, and too many of them look like me.
This past month was among the deadliest in a year in which our communities have endured over 150 mass shootings, and few days without a case of police violence against a person of color—most disturbingly, our children.
We are exhausted, and we are hurting, but we are committed to keep pushing our leaders to take on the crisis of gun violence head on.
In his first 100 days, President Biden and his administration have taken key initial steps to invest existing grant dollars into these evidence based initiatives and have included $5 billion for community programs in the American Jobs Plan.
In his first joint address to Congress he said “gun violence has become an epidemic in America,” and urged Congress to act. Now, it’s up to the leaders in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to prove that they are invested in saving lives, as opposed to paying for death.
We and our partner organizations across the country are demanding that Congress step up to pass key policy reforms and to protect these investments in the individuals and organizations that are fighting every day to build more just and more safe communities.
In solidarity,
Greg Jackson, Jr
Upcoming Events & Opportunities:
May Building Community call:
The goal of our Building Community call is to introduce advocates to the issues that intersect with gun violence in communities of color and provide them the opportunity to learn from experts and distinguished professionals in a particular arena. May’s theme will be uplifting AAPI communities during Asian American & Pacific Islander heritage month , as well as highlight the states who have been awarded funds from Bidens American Rescue Plan. We hope you can join us on May 25, 2021 at 3:00 pm ET. RSVP here
Volunteer Meetings
We are excited to continue to train and work with volunteers to get ready for upcoming advocacy fights to end gun violence. Volunteers get access to legislative updates on gun violence advocacy efforts and are invited to join local and national advocacy fights to get our communities the resources and investments that they deserve. For more information on upcoming volunteering opportunities sign up here!
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:
Below are the actions we currently have available:
National:
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.
Texas residents: call your legislator asking them to support HB 1580, The Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Act (CVIP), a crucial bill that will establish a state-wide Office of Violence Prevention and critical funding for community initiatives to curb gun violence.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline Ask Survivors Survey
Our partners at the National Domestic Violence Hotline need your help to better understand the experiences that domestic violence survivors have with the police. If you identify as a survivor, consider sharing your experience anonymously. Fill out the survey here: bit.ly/AskSurvivors
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Community Justice Policy Updates:
Federal:
Rep. Edie Bernice Johnson and Rep. Bill Foster introduced HR 1576, the National Gun Violence Research Act to support research on the causes, consequences, and prevention methods for gun violence. The Johnson-Foster bill would also include several federal agencies, including the Departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services, and Justice. Notably, the bill would also include a National Office of Gun Violence Research with the National Science Foundation.
California:
AB 1223 recently passed the Revenue and Taxation Committee and is making its way through the legislative process. The bill would establish an excise tax on firearm sales and direct the money to the CalVIP Grant Program, which funds community-based violence prevention work throughout the state. The CalVIP coalition, of which CJAF is a member, stands in strong support of the bill. If it passes, AB 1223 could serve as a model for other states looking for ways to fund community-based violence prevention.
Connecticut:
There are a few policy items moving in the State of Connecticut. The first is HB 5677, which makes Medicaid funding available for community-based violence prevention. It also provides for training and certification of qualified violence prevention professionals. It made it through committee on April 14, 2021 and is now awaiting a vote on the House floor.
Another key bill moving through the Connecticut legislature is HB 6034, which supports and expands Project Longevity, Connecticut's statewide violence prevention initiative. One of the new provisions of this legislation is language providing for access to education and apprenticeship programs for individuals involved in Project Longevity.
Big news coming out of The Constitution State is Gov. Ned Lamont committed to allocating $3 million of CT's share of American Rescue Plan to gun violence prevention. The money would be administered by the Office of Policy and Management, with $1.5 million each year over two years.
Minnesota:
A bill pending in the Minnesota legislature would create a pilot program to address trauma from gun violence. SF 2361 would direct the commissioner of public health to provide resources on gun violence trauma to professionals working with impacted communities and individuals. It would also support community-based violence prevention initiatives, including Project Life and the Minneapolis Group Violence Intervention. An appropriation of $100,000 is included in the bill language.
News
CJAF in the News:
WDVM: Local coalition focuses on reducing gun violence in Maryland
“Every other public health crisis our country has seen our government has reacted with funding, with research, and with policy change with the exception of gun violence. We’re asking our leaders to step up and be leaders and to do at least that to help us save lives in our communities.” Our Advocacy Director Greg Jackson joined members of the Maryland Violence Prevention Coalition this week to call on congress to pass the "America Jobs Plan" which includes $5 billion in funding for community violence intervention programs.
The Hill: How to apply COVID-19 lessons to outbreak of gun violence
Our Executive Director, Amber Goodwin wrote this powerful op-ed on why treating gun violence like a disease and funding community solutions is the key to ending violence.
NBC News: Biden wants to give anti-violence groups $5 billion. Here's how it could be spent.
“It’s exciting because we know the solution to ending gun violence is investing in people. That’s how you prevent violence.” Advocacy Director Greg Jackson on how President Biden’s investment of $5 billion in community violence prevention programs will be invaluable for our communities.
“Even though many think I received “justice,” justice cannot just look like the consistent incarceration of young men of color. Our communities need investment in comprehensive solutions, and funding of programs that empower our youth of color, not put them behind bars.” Read our Speaker’s Bureau member, Oresa Napper-Williams’s letter to Vice President Harris from one Black mother to another on why it’s urgent to take action on gun violence.
USA Today: Oresa Napper-Williams is trying to keep her son's legacy alive
Check out our Speaker’s Bureau member, Oresa Napper-Williams in conversation with USA Today on her local and national efforts to end gun violence in honor of her son Andrell.
News of Interest:
Crain’s Chicago Business: Direct resources to those who need them most.
“But reversing decades of disinvestment and systemic oppression requires that we just don't help communities heal, but we empower them to succeed.” Invest in Us Coalition partner, Eddie Bocanegra writes why investing in community solutions to gun violence is key in interrupting the cycle of violence.
Fox Baltimore: Advocates push for congress to fund community violence intervention programs.
We joined members of the Maryland Violence Prevention Coalition this week to call on congress to pass the "America Jobs Plan" which includes $5 billion in funding for community violence intervention programs.
Fatimah Loren Drier, Invest in Us Coalition Partner and leader of The HAVI, co-wrote this powerful piece on why it’s urgent for Congress to join President Biden and #FundPeace.
WCIA: Activists go door-to-door to try to help stop gun violence.
“We’re going from city to city and lifting up the need for the American Rescue Plan Dollars to be invested in gun violence prevention." President Biden committed $5B in funding for community violence prevention programs. Now state leaders must step up
New York Times: An Alameda Police Officer Used His Knee to Pin Down Mario Gonzalez.
Alameda police knelt on Mario Gonzalez’s back for 2 minutes 50 seconds. Even as he begged them to stop, they stayed on him. Mario should be here, and police should not be able to keep taking the lives of people of color. It’s time for action.
"Gun violence has become an epidemic in America.” said President Biden as he called on Congress to take action to in his first address to a joint session of Congress.
Austin Chronicle:The Opportunity to Reimagine Public Safety Is Here Right Now. Will Austin Take It?
“Everyone should have equal access to things that heal them in the ways that they need it, and that includes historical trauma, it includes state trauma, violence where there's a new shooting every day – we need to heal from that stuff.”
CBS News: 3-year-old shot and killed during drive-by shooting at his birthday party in Florida.
A 3-year-old who was celebrating his birthday was shot and killed in Miami-Dade County last weekend. Elijah was celebrating his birthday with his family when a gunman opened fire. Gun violence is a public health crisis, and youth of color are particularly at risk of losing their lives.
Andrew Brown Jr was shot multiple times by police while his hands were on the steering wheel of his car. Police violence is gun violence. Andrew should be alive, and police should not be able to kill people of color with impunity.
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