National Gun Violence Prevention Organization Led by People of Color Launches Initiative to Empower Leaders Directly Impacted by Gun Violence
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2020
Contact
Heather Cabral
202-550-6880
heather@westendstrategy.com
The group, Policymakers for Peace, will support the passage and implementation of key policies at every level.
Washington, D.C. -- Today, the Community Justice Action Fund, alongside allies and lawmakers, launched Policymakers for Peace. By creating a network of informed and empowered leaders directly impacted by gun violence, Policymakers for Peace will support the passage and implementation of key policies at the state and local that tackle gun violence from an equity lens. The initiative will build and support a national, nonpartisan network of state and local policymakers of color united in the fight against gun violence.
Amber Goodwin, founder of Community Justice Action Fund
“We have amazing lawmakers who are on the frontlines of fighting to end gun violence in their community and we are excited to work with them through the Policymakers for Peace network. Too often we forget that it’s at the local and state level that the most progress is made and we want to find every way possible to support them in their work. We heard from communities of color across the country about the need for support on every level of government, and this network will work to support those needs. By focusing on the legislators who work with communities disproportionately impacted by gun violence, we have a unique opportunity and rare window to change the narrative, push our issues, and make communities across the country more safe.”
Tishaura Jones, Chair of Policymaker for Peace Network and Treasurer for the City of St. Louis, MO
“Policymakers for Peace gives us a platform to be unconventional and courageous in our approach to gun violence prevention in the communities most impacted. We’ve tried a long list of things that don’t work, and so we’re excited about building together with a new approach with evidence based solutions, including viewing gun violence as a public health issue.”
Bruce Franks, Jr., CJAF Senior Advisor, activist and former Missouri House representative, MO District 78 “My community motivated me to get into politics. I grew up just a few miles from where Michael Brown was killed, and his death sparked something in me and in my community. My experience in politics and activism has been rooted in community, and so is this initiative. For too long, communities like mine, families like mine, have suffered from gun violence. To end this epidemic, we need initiatives such as Policymakers for Peace that center impacted communities and empower them to advocate for real solutions that will make our communities safer and allow them to heal.”
Sen. Nikema Williams, GA District 39 "Too often, the communities gun violence is ripping apart are left out of the discussion for solutions. We must raise up the voices of those impacted, and we must support bold initiatives to solve this crisis. That is why I am proud to join the Policymakers for Change Network and look forward to all the important work we will accomplish.
"Rep. César Blanco, District 76 (El Paso) “Every 3 hours someone is killed with a gun in Texas. We can change that with common-sense solutions that actually keep people safe. I’ve been standing in solidarity with my community since the shooting in my hometown, El Paso, healing right alongside my constituents. But that’s not enough as a lawmaker, I owe it to the victims, their families, and my constituents to do right by them and bring change to create safer communities and ultimately save lives and I am excited to be working with Policymakers for Peace to do that.”
Rep. Shevrin Jones, District 101 (FL)“Far too often, marginalized communities of color are silenced in discussions of gun violence prevention. And yet, gun-related deaths continue to plague our communities at higher rates. That is why I filed legislation to create a task force that studies gun violence in urban core communities and neighborhoods, and that is why Policymakers for Peace is so integral to the fight against not only gun violence, but also long-standing systems of racism. If we are going to truly put an end to the gun violence epidemic, we must center those who are directly impacted.”
Policymakers for Peace seeks to create a space and platform to empower and build leaders of color working to create change in their communities. In the coming year, the initiative will host conference calls and in-person meetings across the country to engage communities through training, learning, and planning opportunities to collectively work toward ending gun violence. Additionally, Policymakers for Peace will provide members with advocacy toolkits to take home to their communities, ensuring they have the resources to advocate for more equitable gun violence prevention legislation.
The initiative will retain, empower and motivate the members of the network by equipping members with unparalleled resources, creating an environment of support, and building confidence in the power of collective action.
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