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Dear John,
This is a pandemic. And this is urgent.
Communities of color — already disproportionately impacted by gun violence — are also being hit the hardest by COVID-19. And COVID-19 is making the gun violence crisis worse. But the organizations designed to stop gun violence before it happens are critically endangered — at a time when they are needed most to fight what is now a dual pandemic.
Please take immediate action: Demand Congress do everything they can to stop the gun violence crisis by funding community gun violence prevention programs now!
Because of COVID-19, these community organizations have been forced to cut staff, programming, and outreach, drastically affecting their ability to do their critical work to curb gun violence and assist communities. Many of these programs rely on public spaces and transportation to reach at-risk youth in distant areas and have had their funding reduced because of limited resources.
We know that these programs can achieve sustained reductions in firearm violence. Congress should be strongly supporting such efforts and treating gun violence as the urgent human rights and public health crisis it is — instead of caving to the gun lobby by doing nothing, especially at a time when hospitals and healthcare services are strained.
We just launched a new campaign — RightsNow! — to demand fundamental human rights in the COVID-19 response and recovery. We MUST create a future where we can all live in safety — free from all violence, including gun violence. But we need you to stand with us.
RightsNow! Please add your name demand all RightsNow! This is time sensitive!
RightsNow! With Congress considering new stimulus money, we have a window of opportunity. Urge your members of Congress to commit at least $150 million annually, for 10 years, to community gun violence prevention programs and establish a national strategy to address the disproportionate impact of this public health crisis, especially on communities of color.
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