On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Durbin Meets With Organizations Addressing Root Causes

On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Durbin Meets With Organizations Addressing Root Causes

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) marked National Gun Violence Awareness Day today by meeting with community organizations that are members of the Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) initiative in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. CP4P engages residents in working on solutions to end gun violence while forging closer partnerships with public agencies and law enforcement.

"On this day, we wear orange to honor the nearly 4,000 children and teens who are shot and killed by guns in America each year," Durbin said. "Gun violence is the number one killer of young people in this country. That's right-not cancer or car accidents-guns."

Durbin joined U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) to reintroduce a resolution designating June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month and designating Friday, June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. First introduced in 2016, this resolution acknowledges the deadly toll of gun violence in our nation and recognizes what this year would have been the 29^th birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed while standing in a Chicago park in January 2013 just days after she performed in President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremonies. Hadiya's parents started the Wear Orange movement, during which Americans across the nation wear orange on this day in honor of Hadiya and all the victims of gun violence in America and their loved ones.

Durbin has joined forces with major Chicago hospitals for the past several years on a groundbreaking community initiative to reduce violence and improve health called the Chicago HEAL (Hospital Engagement, Action, and Leadership) Initiative. Beyond advocating for sensible gun safety laws, Durbin believes addressing gun violence requires a focus on the underlying factors that contribute to the problem, including health challenges, inequality, and poverty.

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