Gun Violence | Faith in Action

Black Southern Women’s Collaborative Remembers Victims of Buffalo Mass Shooting

Sierra Snyder — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 18:23:01 +0000

BUFFALO – The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative today remembered the victims of the racist massacre at a TOPS Grocery Store in Buffalo, New York on May 15, 2022. Payton Gendron, just 19-years-old at the time, killed 10 people after targeting the predominantly Black neighborhood. Members of the Collaborative – which includes members from Florida (Faith in Florida), Georgia (the New Georgia Project), Louisiana (the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice), Mississippi (Southern Echo), and Tennessee (Memphis Artists for Change) – released the following statement:

“The continued gun violence in America has become an epidemic,” said Rev. Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida. “No one is safe. Our families and children are no longer safe in schools, universities, malls, movie theaters, and grocery stores. Many lawmakers choose to ignore or not address the safety of all Americans. I am unsure what more it would take for this matter to be resolved. My prayers and thoughts go out to the residents of Buffalo, New York.”

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Michigan faith leaders call for legislative action to curb mass shootings

Sierra Snyder — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:05:02 +0000

FLINT, Mich. (WILX) – Clergy and leaders from across Michigan are joining the country in mourning the lives lost in the mass shooting that took place at Michigan State University on Monday.

“We at Michigan Faith in Action are no strangers to the Michigan State University community,” said Hayes.

Eileen Hayes, executive director of Michigan Faith in Action, reflected on the organization’s close partnership with the MSU community while calling for legislative change to prevent gun violence.

Hayes said that this tragedy is the latest in a long list of mass shootings and needs more than just ‘hearts and minds.’ She said it needs real gun violence prevention legislation that legislators just down the road from MSU can and have the ability to pass.

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Black Faith Groups Have Been Fighting Neighborhood Gun Violence for Decades. They Finally Getting Support

Sierra Snyder — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:27:29 +0000

Indianapolis hit record-high murder rates in recent years, breaking the all-time record in 2021 with 251 homicides, making it one of the most violent cities per capita in the United States. The spike reflects a national increase in gun violence during the pandemic that experts attribute to a range of factors including disruption in people’s work and personal lives, an increase in gun sales, and mental health issues.
But the city is now in the midst of a promising experiment, led by faith leaders, with politicians, police, and residents all committed to reducing gun violence.

The city government’s program to combat gun violence is a years-long effort that has required unflagging community organizing and building the political clout of neighborhood residents. Spearheaded by the nonprofit Faith in Indiana, the program is showing encouraging preliminary findings; the city has seen a 15 percent year-on-year homicide reduction. Faith in Indiana — whose $1.5 million annual budget is funded in part by the Ford and Robert Wood Johnson foundations, the Heartland Fund, and other philanthropic organizations — is part of the multifaith, multiracial national network Faith in Action.

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Network of congregations working to combat gun violence in Fort Pierce

Sierra Snyder — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:08:13 +0000

Alisia Harriel is the Treasure Coast community organizer for Faith in Florida. “My typical day, I go out into the community, go knock on doors,” she said. “My number one question is, what keeps you up at night?”

She said people she spoke with Thursday had one main concern. “Their one concern was getting justice. Who is responsible for the tragedy that happened on Martin Luther King Day, and are they safe right now in their own homes,” Harriel said. “Right now they don’t feel safe, because no one is arrested right now.”

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Local faith group working to halt gun violence with Community Night Walks

Sierra Snyder — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 20:22:12 +0000

The Mobile hub of a national organization Faith In Action made up of concerned citizens, made their way through Ladd Peebles Stadium to stand up against the growing acts of youth violence in Mobile. They spoke with fans during the Leflore and Vigor high school game in hopes of creating change.

Faith In Action says it’s time to get outside the four walls of the church and get back in the four corners of the community to save our youth.

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City leaders propose $2M for mental health response team in 2023 budget

Sierra Snyder — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 19:31:32 +0000

Indianapolis city officials plan to include more mental health response resources in the 2023 city-county operating budget. Mayor Joe Hogsett joined representatives from the Office of Public Health and Safety, as well as Faith in Indiana, to announce the plans.

Hogsett said the office is budgeting $2 million for a clinician-led mental health response team. “Now this would be a non law enforcement response, engaging with residents in their time of need to reduce unnecessary entanglement with the criminal justice system,” Hogsett said.

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Congress Approved Millions for Gun Violence Prevention. Will It Reach Grassroots Groups?

Sierra Snyder — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 19:04:05 +0000

When a 22-year-old woman died from a gunshot wound in February, community organizations and faith leaders in Broward County, Florida, responded quickly. The coalition took to the streets in the days following her killing, hoping to prevent further violence. They offered access to mental health support and counseling. And in the weeks after, Faith in Florida, an organization that works to prevent gun violence, organized financial support for the victim’s family.

Pastor Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida, would like to do more: improve access to counselors who look like the community, train new outreach workers and organizers, and provide additional financial and emotional support for victims and their families. But the organization and other community groups it works with lack the funding.

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Faith in Action Alabama continues pursuit of justice and longevity in community with second support grant

Sierra Snyder — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 18:57:34 +0000

BIRMINGHAM Ala. (WIAT)– The Birmingham police department has recorded over 80 homicides so far this year in Birmingham. Five homicides occurred in Birmingham just last week.

With the recent uptick in crime here in the Magic City, a local community-based group is working toward being a positive force in hopes of turning this cycle of violence around.

The Everytown Community Safety Fund awarded Faith in Action Alabama with a second support grant recently. That funding will help the organization resolve conflict and hopefully put an end to violence in our community.

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‘I Know You’re Here to Take My Life’: Indiana Police Underfire for Killing Black Man in a Mental Health Crisis Instead Of Calling On a Crisis Response Team

Sierra Snyder — Thu, 18 May 2023 19:31:40 +0000

Police officers in Indiana face backlash for fatally shooting a schizophrenic man after negotiating with him for 40 minutes.

According to reports, South Bend Police SWAT officers opened fire on Dante Kittrell while he was in an open field with a handgun threatening suicide on July 29. Police officials said they tried to negotiate with the 52-year-old for 40 minutes. Authorities said he raised the weapon in the direction of the armored SWAT truck, forcing officers to fire the fatal shots.

Community leaders and activists say police “executed” the man with a long history of mental health problems. The police union said de-escalation attempts were unsuccessful, so officers took the right measures to resolve the incident.

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‘Faith without works is dead’: Indy’s Black faith leaders use religious conviction to push community change

Sierra Snyder — Thu, 18 May 2023 19:04:22 +0000

The Black church has been and continues to be a place for Black people to seek refuge. With concerns about violence, mental health and rising prices throughout the city, the faith leaders and their congregations are answering the call for the community. For Rev. David Greene, president of Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and pastor at Purpose of Life Ministries, his religious conviction is what drives his continuous involvement in community issues.

“Faith without works is dead,” he said. “For me, faith is not something that is just locked in a Sunday service or Wednesday Bible study. The needs are so vast to just sit on the sidelines and pray about it.” People rely on faith-based communities for not only their religious practices but also for mental health care, financial assistance, day care and education. Like Greene, the faith of many other prominent community figures motivates the work they do for the Black community.

The Black faith leaders and their congregations are also at the frontlines of many of the social justice initiatives. In the last few months, Dr. Carlos Perkins, senior pastor at Bethel Cathedral AME Church, has worked with other faith-based organizations, such as Faith in Indiana and Indiana’s Black Church Coalition, to advocate for better mental health policies in the community.