Danny
Govan, 16 year old and mother, Sheila Govan,
speaking for those victimized by gun violence.
The Govan family has had 10 members of
its immediate family murdered as a result of gun
violence in past years.
Victims of Gun Violence, MPD, USDOJ, DMH,
DCPS, DYRS, EMS. Members of the Clergy,
Community Organizations, and Concerned Citizens,
Crisis Response Team, Homicide Liaison, youth,
and members of the City Council.
What:
Public service announcing GUNS ASIDE
poster on metro buses to begin proactive
awareness campaign at efforts to reduce gun
violence in the District of Columbia
Where: Steps
of John Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave,
NW, Washington, DC 20008
When:
Friday, April 6, 2007, 10:30 AM
Why:
As of April 3, there have been 40
homicides in the District of Columbia.
6,412 individuals have been murdered in
the District of Columbia from 1986 through 2005.
According to MPD statistics, robbery with
a handgun is up 8% over 2006, and assault with a
deadly weapon - handgun is up 5% over last year.
Over
the past several years, ROOT has conducted
preliminary research on children that are
impacted by gun violence and homicide and
results have been astonishing. Children
from the 5th to the 12th
grade are reporting that upwards of 90% know a
family member or friend that has been victimized
by gun violence, and upwards of 90% hear
gunshots in their community
In
a recent survey conducted among young women
during an empowerment symposium at a high school
in Ward 8, we found that 75% of the young women
surveyed either had access or knew someone with
access to guns.
We
are gathering Friday, April 6, 2007, at the
Wilson Building to bring to the forefront the
ever increasing prevalence of gun violence and
the escalating occurrences of senseless youth
violence in the District. On Metro buses,
are Public Service Announcement wrapper ads
displaying ROOT's Guns Aside Awareness Campaign.
This PSA is the collaborative effort by the DC
Dept. of Health, AmeriGroup and ROOT, Inc.
In
January 2006, then Council members Jim Graham
(Ward 1) and Adrian Fenty (Ward 4) introduced a
resolution to the District City Council to make
January a Guns Aside month because of ROOT's
work in bringing the youth violence and gun
violence to the forefront of public awareness.
The Council unanimously voted to pass this
resolution. At this time ROOT conveyed
that the deluge of violence plaguing the
District warranted a state of emergency and
public health crisis. In July 2006 the
City declared a state of emergency due to the
escalating prevalence of gun violence
In
January 2007, the resolution to make January a
Guns Aside month was re-introduced by Council
members Jim Graham and Vincent Gray and passed
unanimously by the Council. In March 2007,
the panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
D.C. Circuit became the nation's first federal
appeals court to overturn a gun-control law --
the District's gun ban has been in effect since
1976.
The
city itself declared a state of emergency in
July of 2006. Prior to that
declaration, ROOT had its outreach workers
circulating petitions throughout the District of
Columbia for citizens to sign expressing their
concerns about gun violence. Over
8,000 petitions were signed by citizens young
and old in the city prior to the city declaring
the state of emergency.
The
prevalence of guns in the community are a
concern to all. The recent
appellate court decision has created a great
deal of controversy in the District of Columbia,
when the District is trying to reduce the amount
of guns not increase the numbers.
Together
with the continued support of Mayor Adrian Fenty
and Council member Jim Graham, we recognize the
alarming prevalence of gun violence and youth
violence. Through Mayor Adrian Fenty's and
Council member Jim Graham 's proactive
initiatives and innovative approach in
supporting programs addressing the ever
increasing stem of gun violence as well as the
District's diligent efforts to appeal the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, we can
and shall turn the tide of violence. making the
streets and neighborhoods of the District safer
and more sustainable.
