Throughout National Gun Violence Survivors Week, we’ll be hosting three virtual community conversations on Zoom. We invite you to join one or all three.
*Can’t join a session live? Register now, and we’ll send you an email with a link to view the recording after the event.
Guns are the number one killer of young people in the United States – every year, 18,000 children and teens are shot and killed or wounded, and approximately 3 million witness an act of gun violence, with Black and Latinx youth bearing the brunt of this crisis. When homes, neighborhoods, and schools are not safe from gun violence, entire generations of American children are affected.
Young people have grown up in the midst of the gun violence epidemic and many are leading the way in advocating for solutions. In this roundtable conversation, young leaders and activists will discuss their perspectives on the challenges and solutions in reducing the traumatic impact of gun violence on America’s youth.
Moderator: Ashley Castillo, Students Demand Action
Panelists:
Over the past few years, the medical community in this country has battled dual public health crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, and the gun violence epidemic. Some operate on or care for survivors of firearm injury after they’ve been paralyzed, lost a limb, or been disabled. Some deliver mental health care to siblings and parents of loved ones who have been shot, or treat anxiety of teachers and students who must participate in active shooter drills at school, despite already being traumatized by the constant news of school shootings.
Members of the healthcare community are trained not only to address illnesses and trauma, but also to prevent disease and injuries before they occur. In this panel, we will hear from public health activists to discuss one of the greatest issues facing American public health and discuss concrete actions they’ve been taking in their communities to effect change.
Moderator: Tannuja Rozario, Associate Director of Research, Everytown for Gun Safety
Panelists:
Too many survivors across the United States carry the enormous emotional burden of not knowing who or why because their shooting is unsolved. Thousands of survivors never have their day in court or see accountability for themselves, their families or in their community. For survivors of unsolved gun homicides, the pain of having a loved one taken by gun violence is compounded by not having answers or seeing justice served.
Solving gun homicides and assaults is essential to addressing the gun violence crisis in America, as it increases trust in law enforcement, breaks cycles of violence in communities, and helps address trauma and promote healing among survivors.
This panel will feature a discussion between survivors and criminal justice experts about what they’re doing and have done to keep pushing forward for justice.
Moderator: Keenon James, Senior Director, Everytown for Gun Safety
Panelists: