Note: This email contains discussions of gun violence and domestic violence.

John–

In the summer of 1980, my 25-year-old mother, Sharon Neal, was shot and
killed in an act of domestic violence. She left behind her four young boys
in our hometown of Monroe, Louisiana, to be raised by her parents. I was
5.

One of my brothers, Kevin, would go on to have a son of his own, Kevin
Jr., lovingly known as "Make Mae." He was in the JROTC program at his
school, worked part-time, and had a great big smile and an even bigger
personality. On October 19, 2016, at the age of 18, Kevin was killed in a
senseless act of gun violence in Newport News, Virginia.

I've been preaching for nearly 30 years now—the hardest thing I've ever
done was preach at his funeral.

As a pastor, it's my role to preach life abundantly and to cherish
humanity. Every act of gun violence cuts away from our shared humanity,
that essence of connected existence which binds us all—and it tears at my
community the most. Like many Black Americans, my family has experienced
the deadly toll of this crisis.

That's why this week, I'm joining gun violence survivors across the
country to commemorate both Black History Month and the fourth annual
National Gun Violence Survivors Week. [ [link removed] ]Join me: Read and share the
stories of Black survivors of gun violence on Moments That Survive.

The first week of February marks the time that gun deaths in the United
States surpass the number of gun deaths experienced in peer countries in
an entire calendar year.

It also marks the first week of Black History Month—a time to honor the
history of a beautiful and vibrant community that has experienced violence
in this country for centuries. Even now, 68 percent of Black Americans or
someone they care for have experienced gun violence.

As we commemorate both of these events, I encourage you to join me in
honoring the lives of those who came before us, and the lives of those we
have lost. [ [link removed] ]Join me by reading and sharing the stories of Black
survivors of gun violence.

My mother and my nephew both live in my heart, and I work to keep their
memories alive. Together as a movement, I know that we can end gun
violence and heal as a nation.

Thank you,

Reverend Dr. Lorenzo Neal
Everytown Survivor Network


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