The first week of February marks when gun deaths in the U.S. surpass those of all other peer countries in an entire calendar year.
Everytown for Gun Safety

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. 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. 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

Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund (the “Everytown Support Fund”) is the education, research and litigation arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with nearly six million supporters. The Everytown Support Fund seeks to improve our understanding of the causes of gun violence and help to reduce it by conducting groundbreaking original research, developing evidence-based policies, communicating this knowledge to the American public, and advancing gun safety and gun violence prevention in communities and the courts. Learn more at www.EverytownResearch.org Contributions to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
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