NWSOFA/Indivisible Gun Violence Prevention Team Meeting

NWSOFA/Indivisible Gun Violence Prevention Team Meeting

There are no words to adequately respond to the tragic death of George Floyd and to the 1000 other individuals who have lost their lives to police violence in 2020.

As a Gun Violence Prevention Issues Team, we stand in solidarity with those who peacefully protested and continue to call for an end to police violence and systemic racism and call for police reform and for adding more mental health resources to policing polices.

And just like the public health crisis of Covid-19, we know that racism and gun violence are at epidemic levels in the U.S. and all intersect in a space where our individual and collective voices of sustained protest and action can make a difference to bring a change in our laws to ensure that equality, justice and peace is experienced by everyone.

So – because of Newtown in 2012 and Parkland in 2018, the NWSOFA GVP Issues group, currently in its ninth year, has re-committed itself to become even more relentless advocates of peacemaking, change and action.

We are determined to change the conversation surrounding gun violence in America no matter where it occurs, change the hearts of people we encounter through a spirit of peacemaking, volunteerism and kindness and take action to change the laws to create safer communities for every family in America.
The GVP Issues Team educates by having periodic informational meetings and collaborates with coalition non-partisan groups, including local faith communities, Preemptive Love Coalition, Moms Demand Action and Newtown Action Alliance. The GVP Issues Team takes action by supporting the efforts of our youth and March for Our Lives and by recruiting legislators to build support for commonsense gun violence prevention legislation.
In addition, our GVP Team celebrates the success that has been achieved in America – because of Parkland – in changing the conversation around gun violence prevention. We also celebrate the fact that Gov. Pritzker signed, in January 2019, the law that requires a certification process for gun dealers in Illinois. We know from the research that this law will definitely help to save lives, including the lives of our police officers everywhere – the majority of whom we acknowledge conduct themselves with a spirit of honor, dedication and service to their communities.

And we continue to work to strengthen background checks and raise community awareness through hosting online GVP awareness events, vigils, using social media, writing letters to the editor and handing out fliers.

For those of us who agree with the experts who see both Covid-19 and gun violence as public health issues, we also wholeheartedly agree with those who see the impact of the pandemic and gun violence on communities of color as part of underlying issues of systemic racism. But we are confident that once we take a truly holistic look at these issues – and unite and work together – we then will be able to take the necessary steps and move closer to reaching our goal of creating safer and more equitable communities for all Americans.

Please join us – we’d love to have you on our team!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82859573341?pwd=bE14dFE2azJpSy8wYUZOV2RGNkpPdz09

Meeting ID: 828 5957 3341
Passcode: 534343
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,82859573341#,,,,*534343# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,82859573341#,,,,*534343# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 828 5957 3341
Passcode: 534343