This Forum Is Dedicated To The Cultural, Spiritual, Economic, Academic, Political, And Social Empowerment Of African-Americans In The United States.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
ROOT CEO Seeks Congressional Support on National Campaign
US Senator Carl Levin - Michigan
February 10, 2006
ROOT Introduced on Senate Floor: Make Gun Violence Prevention a Priority
Dear Congressmember,
FACT: Death by gun violence is the number one cause of death for African American males ages 15-34 in the United States of America today. (Derived from the Centers for Disease Control’s Web-based In-jury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars/)
There is an epidemic taking place in America today, virtually being ignored and unattended, and that epidemic is death by gun violence. As a government and as a nation, while we take a proactive approach and develop a cohesive strategy to deal with perhaps an impending calamity brought about by bird flu, headlines throughout America daily tell of the epidemic of gun violence.
Nationally, we face a disturbing increase in violent crimes committed by American juveniles, and an alarming rise in abuse, neglect, and gun violence perpetuated against this country's youth and within urban communities. Furthermore, the problems of homicides and gun violence are both systemic and epidemic. All systems -family, education and government are failing to meet the needs of victims of homicides and the needs of youth in our community affected by gun violence and homicide. More and more we are faced with individuals who do not value the life of another human being and having this type of mindset glorified in music and videos.
In January of this year, by unanimous vote, the city council of the District of Columbia declared January Guns Aside month, recognizing the efforts of our campaign to reduce gun violence. A press conference was held at the National Press Club declaring a public health state of emergency existing in the District of Columbia due to increased incidents of gun violence, youth violence, and homicide.
Though held in the District of Columbia, this declaration could be made and press conference held in almost any major urban city within the United States of America.
In July of this year at the annual convention of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the incoming president, Jimmy L. Dotson, during his acceptance speech declared as NOBLE’s top priority to address ever increasing incidents of youth violence, gun violence, and homicides facing our cities and communities across America. He put a clarion call out to NOBLE chapters throughout America to collaborate with ROOT in a National Campaign to address this crisis.
We are now calling on Congress to do the same.
On Wednesday August 23, 10 AM, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, The National Organization of Black law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the Hip Hop Caucus Institute in collaboration with ROOT (Reaching Out To Others Together), Inc will gather an unprecedented national coalition of community leaders, mental health professionals, congressional staffers, clergy, et al., to call on Congress to convene emergency hearings and to address the epidemic of violence plagued communities throughout America.
We seek your support as we call on Congress; we ask that you join with us at the press conference on August 23 to announce our intentions; we seek your support and the support of the Congressional Black Caucus as we carry this message and this campaign nationwide.
More importantly, however, we ask for your support and assistance as we call on Congress to convene hearings to address the epidemic of gun violence, as we call on Congress to work with us to convene a series of Town Hall meetings in the most violence plagued cities throughout America, and as we call on Congress to work with us as we develop a local and national cohesive campaign, similar to Mothers Against Gun Driving, to attack this epidemic seemingly imbedded within cities and communities throughout America.
As a nation and as a community, we have to move from the rhetoric generated after horrific tragedies and develop a comprehensive proactive strategy that supports the victims of homicide, recognizes the trauma of youth, families, and communities affected by gun violence, and homicide, and encourages youth and communities to set Guns Aside.
We would be indeed honored to discuss further how we can be of assistance to one another in an effort to end the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our cities, our communities, our families, our neighborhoods, and our youth.
Sincerely,
Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS
Founder & CEO
ROOT Inc.
February 10, 2006
ROOT Introduced on Senate Floor: Make Gun Violence Prevention a Priority
Dear Congressmember,
FACT: Death by gun violence is the number one cause of death for African American males ages 15-34 in the United States of America today. (Derived from the Centers for Disease Control’s Web-based In-jury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS), http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars/)
There is an epidemic taking place in America today, virtually being ignored and unattended, and that epidemic is death by gun violence. As a government and as a nation, while we take a proactive approach and develop a cohesive strategy to deal with perhaps an impending calamity brought about by bird flu, headlines throughout America daily tell of the epidemic of gun violence.
Nationally, we face a disturbing increase in violent crimes committed by American juveniles, and an alarming rise in abuse, neglect, and gun violence perpetuated against this country's youth and within urban communities. Furthermore, the problems of homicides and gun violence are both systemic and epidemic. All systems -family, education and government are failing to meet the needs of victims of homicides and the needs of youth in our community affected by gun violence and homicide. More and more we are faced with individuals who do not value the life of another human being and having this type of mindset glorified in music and videos.
In January of this year, by unanimous vote, the city council of the District of Columbia declared January Guns Aside month, recognizing the efforts of our campaign to reduce gun violence. A press conference was held at the National Press Club declaring a public health state of emergency existing in the District of Columbia due to increased incidents of gun violence, youth violence, and homicide.
Though held in the District of Columbia, this declaration could be made and press conference held in almost any major urban city within the United States of America.
In July of this year at the annual convention of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the incoming president, Jimmy L. Dotson, during his acceptance speech declared as NOBLE’s top priority to address ever increasing incidents of youth violence, gun violence, and homicides facing our cities and communities across America. He put a clarion call out to NOBLE chapters throughout America to collaborate with ROOT in a National Campaign to address this crisis.
We are now calling on Congress to do the same.
On Wednesday August 23, 10 AM, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, The National Organization of Black law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the Hip Hop Caucus Institute in collaboration with ROOT (Reaching Out To Others Together), Inc will gather an unprecedented national coalition of community leaders, mental health professionals, congressional staffers, clergy, et al., to call on Congress to convene emergency hearings and to address the epidemic of violence plagued communities throughout America.
We seek your support as we call on Congress; we ask that you join with us at the press conference on August 23 to announce our intentions; we seek your support and the support of the Congressional Black Caucus as we carry this message and this campaign nationwide.
More importantly, however, we ask for your support and assistance as we call on Congress to convene hearings to address the epidemic of gun violence, as we call on Congress to work with us to convene a series of Town Hall meetings in the most violence plagued cities throughout America, and as we call on Congress to work with us as we develop a local and national cohesive campaign, similar to Mothers Against Gun Driving, to attack this epidemic seemingly imbedded within cities and communities throughout America.
As a nation and as a community, we have to move from the rhetoric generated after horrific tragedies and develop a comprehensive proactive strategy that supports the victims of homicide, recognizes the trauma of youth, families, and communities affected by gun violence, and homicide, and encourages youth and communities to set Guns Aside.
We would be indeed honored to discuss further how we can be of assistance to one another in an effort to end the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our cities, our communities, our families, our neighborhoods, and our youth.
Sincerely,
Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS
Founder & CEO
ROOT Inc.
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