Friends and Partners,

The Urban Peace Institute is heartbroken and enraged by the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo.  Innocence targeted. Latinos targeted. African Americans targeted. 

Our children deserve to be safe at school. Families deserve to be safe while shopping. We demand action from our leaders to prevent these horrific attacks.

We know gun violence is the leading cause of death among American children and teens. It is a public health crisis that disproportionately impacts communities of color. Black Americans are 10 times more likely than white Americans to die by gun homicide.

We know there are both community-driven and policy solutions to end the gun violence epidemic. The Urban Peace Institute trains and supports peacemakers across the country interrupt the destructive cycle of gun and gang violence.

Despite our efforts, it has been two decades since Congress has passed a single major gun safety law. We stand alongside our national partners to call for immediate gun safety legislation. We can enact gun safety solutions to prevent these mass tragedies. There are common sense gun safety reforms that can reduce further bloodshed. The Urban Peace Institute supports calls to ensure stricter background checks and limit access to semi-automatic rifles.

Enough is enough. We are done with thoughts and prayers, it’s time for community-level investment and policy change to save lives.

In Peace,

Fernando Rejón