Gun Violence Prevention Organizations Applaud Gov. Evers For Investing In Violence Prevention Strategies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2021
Press Contact:
Community Justice Action Fund
Sawyeh Maghsoodloo
(949) 293-9642
COALITION OF FIVE LEADING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ORGANIZATIONS APPLAUD WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS FOR INVESTING $45 MILLION INTO VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Washington, D.C.— Today, Community Justice Action Fund, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund, March for Our Lives, Focused Interruption, and Everytown for Gun Safety applauded Governor Tony Evers for investing $45 million in violence prevention programs in Wisconsin. Governor Evers announced an investment of $25 million in violence prevention efforts and $20 million in victim support services in the state. Of the $25 million investment in violence prevention efforts, $8.4 million will be dedicated to support the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention efforts to prevent and reduce violence through partnerships that strengthen youth, families, and neighborhoods.
Greg Jackson, executive director of Community Justice Action Fund stated, "Violence in our communities has hit historic highs, and leadership in Milwaukee has a duty to invest in gun violence prevention strategies that are proven to work. President Biden and Governor Evers agree that funding these strategies will save lives and strengthen our communities. We continue to urge local leaders to fund peace, as opposed to letting violence continue without action."
"This isn't business as usual, this is a real, tangible investment in young people's futures," said Alexis Confer, executive director of March For Our Lives. "All of us deserve a future where we can live without fear of violence. This funding is a commitment to solutions that do just that, and prevent violence before it happens. We applaud the governor's leadership in this. Now it's time for local leaders to step up and join the fight against gun violence by matching this $8.4 investment for violence prevention. Young people in Milwaukee and across the country are watching."
“Community-based violence intervention programs save lives — this commitment will give groups on the ground and their life saving work the resources they need to sustain their efforts,” said Michael-Sean Spence, director of community safety initiatives at Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. “As we continue to see high levels of gun violence in Wisconsin, and across the country, committing funds to protect communities from gun violence has never been more important.”
Since the enactment of the American Rescue Plan, the coalition of gun violence prevention organizations have supported Wisconsin organizations like W.A.V.E and Focused Interruption Coalition to advocate for investments into violence prevention programs. We applaud Governor Evers action this week, modeling leadership in the midwest by making impactful investments in violence prevention in Wisconsin.
On average, 621 people are killed and 1,903 people are wounded by guns every year in Wisconsin. Gun deaths and injuries cost Wisconsin an estimated $4 billion every year, $139 million of which is paid by taxpayers. Black people in Wisconsin are 26 times more likely to be killed in a gun homicide than white people in Wisconsin. More information available upon request.
###
About Community Justice Action Fund
The Community Justice Action Fund, a project of Tides Advocacy, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization building power for and with communities of color to end gun violence.
About Focused Interruption
Focused Interruption's mission is to use a holistic approach to reduce generational trauma by providing evidence-based intervention and prevention services to the people, neighborhoods, and families most impacted by gun violence
About Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund
Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort Educational Fund is a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, injuries and deaths through education and advocacy.
About March for Our Lives
March For Our Lives is a national youth-led movement to end gun violence in America. Its mission is to harness the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives.
About Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund
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.everytownsupportfund.org.