Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry, and Devin Chandler should have been heading to class today before taking the practice field at the University of Virginia. Instead, these young men who achieved despite the odds, are being mourned by family, friends, the University community, and those back home.

As a graduate of UVA, I know firsthand how devastating moments like these can be on the tight-knit Black communities that band together on campuses and schools across the country. Our Black youth deserve to grow and learn safely, yet in America, even some of the best schools aren’t immune to gun violence which has become the #1 cause of death for Black men and all youth.

Our leaders must heed the urgent, resounding call in our national conversation. We must address this cycle of preventable tragedy as the public health crisis that it is, with a public health response.

Support us in this cause by signing up to take action and demanding leaders in Virginia and the U.S. take action to end gun violence.