Newark NJ Residents March Against Violence

Newark residents took to the streets Saturday for a citywide peace walk.

The walk was a call to action for business leaders, the community and families to help end gun violence.

Rep. Donald Payne statement on passage of assault weapons ban in the House of Representatives

NJ congressman Donald Payne Jr. released the following statement after the House passed a bill banning assault weapons:

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. helped pass a bill today to prevent the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines for civilian use. The bill, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 (H.R. 1808), would reduce the amount of such weapons on American streets and allow states to use grants to buy back semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines from Americans who own them already. America had a similar ban on assault weapons from 1994 to 2004. During that time, mass shooting deaths dropped 70 percent and there were 40 percent fewer crimes committed with assault weapons.

“There is no reason why civilians should have assault weapons or high-capacity magazines,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “They are weapons of war and should not be on American streets. This bill will lower the incidents of gun violence and save lives. In addition, I am proud that this bill includes a provision to provide communities with federal grants to buy back assault weapons from American owners. I introduced a bill called the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act, which would fund such grants and local gun buyback programs. I hope the Senate passes this bill soon because we must do more to prevent gun violence across America.”

"Blood on Your Hands", a plea to the United States Congress to act on gun violence

Hello, my name is George L. Cook III. I wrote this poem, "Blood on Your Hands" in response to the shooting in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York. I am begging the United States Congress to actually do something about gun violence in this country, and thoughts and prayers is not what I want. Watch me recite the poem in the video below.

This poem is in my new poetry book, The Blood Is On Your Hands Poems About Gun Violence available now on Amazon.

Purchase the book on Amazon:

Paperback******* Kindle

NAACP PRESIDENT DERRICK JOHNSON CALLS ON CONGRESS TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS

After the tragic mass shootings in both Georgia and Colorado, NAACP President Derrick Johnson has released the following statement asking for Congress to ban assault weapons:

“We cannot return to “normal”. Normal in America means endless mass shootings in churches, schools and even grocery stores. Normal in America means crushing trauma for families and communities across the nation. Normal in America means that only 83 days into 2021, 102 mass shootings have already occurred at the hands of gunmen.

Assault weapons are military-style weapons of war, made for offensive military battlefields. They do not belong in the hands of ordinary citizens.

President Biden, we agree with you. We can no longer ‘wait another minute’ to act on the gun violence epidemic. That is why the NAACP is calling on Congress to immediately ban assault weapons. Preventable deaths have been the tragic result of paralyzed progress. As our nation prepares to reopen, the lives of innocent Americans depend on expeditious action.”

Congreswoman Lucy McBath's letter to her deceased son, Jordan Davis

Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA 6th District) has written a letter to her deceased son, Jordan Davis who was shot and killed in 2012 following an argument at a gas station in Florida about loud music.

Read her heart breaking and at the same time uplifting message to continue the fight against gun violence to her son below.

From Lucy McBath:

Today marks seven years after my son, Jordan, was shot for playing his music.

This is always the hardest day of the year for me. So this year, I want to share a letter I wrote to my son.

Dear Jordan:

Seven years ago today, it was Black Friday in 2012. I was relaxing with our family at home after Thanksgiving.

That afternoon, you were headed to the mall to buy presents for your friends.

You and your friends were at a gas station, putting gas into your car.

Without warning, a man confronted you and opened fire. He shot 10 rounds into the car, and sped away.

I didn’t get to hug and kiss you goodbye. You were 17 years old. My heart is still broken.

In the aftermath of your death, I did not know how to deal with my grief.

I prayed for guidance to find a new path forward.

Then, I knew what I had to do. I knew what WE had to do.

We would fight to make sure no other families would have to suffer this pain.

Jordan, I want you to know I am working to carry out your legacy.

We thought you would one day fight for change -- and now, together, we are carrying out that vision.

Seven years later, you still inspire me every single day. I miss you. I love you so much.

- Mom

Chicago mayor slams Sen. Ted Cruz for his tweet about Chicago violence

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) took to Twiiter to slam Republican Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) after the lawmaker revived an old conservative talking point that gun violence in Chicago proved that “gun control doesn’t work.”

Read her response to his comment below:

60% of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago come from outside IL—mostly from states dominated by coward Republicans like you who refuse to enact commonsense gun legislation. Keep our name out of your mouth. https://t.co/yVM4JHL3xy pic.twitter.com/pr613A3dpf

— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 3, 2019

Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker statements on West Texas shootings

Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker released the following statements on the Odessa and Midland Texas shootings, in which 21 were injured and at least five were killed:

Keeping the Midland and Odessa community and the victims in my thoughts and prayers. Grateful to first responders who ran into harm's way.

I’m sick of this. America is sick of this.

We need to act.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 31, 2019

I’m heartbroken for the families of the victims in the Odessa and Midland shooting. Our children deserve a future without multiple mass shootings in one month.

We need gun safety reform.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) September 1, 2019

A 17-month-old baby.

It’s perverse that we live in a society where this is allowed to happen. My heart goes out to all those affected by today’s mass shootings in Odessa and Midland, Texas. https://t.co/HgEnreuhSK

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) September 1, 2019

Cory Booker Speech On Gun Violence At California Democratic Party State Convention

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker delivered a passionate about gun violence at the California Democratic Convention after hearing about the twelve city government employees who were killed by a co-worker in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Watch his speech below:

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Statement on Shooting at Trenton Art All Night

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement on the shooting at the Art All Night festival in Trenton early this morning:

“I am saddened and angered at the violence that took place at Art All Night early this morning, and I am praying for all of the families involved, but, as I’ve said before, that’s not enough. After every shooting, we talk about motive, mental illness and every other distraction from the real problem — guns.

“New Jersey has some of the strongest gun safety legislation in the country. That should make it very clear that this is a problem we can only solve at the national level, with Congress leading the way. Despite all of our state’s efforts, New Jersey is not an island — we can’t make our neighborhoods safe as long as guns can come in across a bridge or state line, from Pennsylvania or North Carolina. There has to be federal action.

“So many times since being elected to Congress, I’ve begged people to take this seriously. As it comes home to my own district, I’m heartbroken knowing we could make it harder to access these weapons. Dozens of the congressmen and women I work with every day have gotten the call I got this morning alerting them to a shooting in their district. For anyone that hasn’t, I’m asking to work with you now, before it happens to you. There are bills ready for consideration right now. We just need to be brave enough to call for votes.”

58 Shot, 8 Fatally, over Thanksgiving Weekend In Chicago

This has got to stop, we are at a point where people are actually saying "only" 8 died as if that's a good thing. There are enough threats out there to young black men without us adding to them. There is no amount of police, no amount of laws that can be passed to stop this violence, no amount of marching, and no amount of pastors preaching that can stop this violence. The way to end this violence It lies with us, the black community as a whole. When we truly decide that enough is enough, the shootings will stop. George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com.

At least 58 people have been shot, 8 fatally, in attacks across the city over Thanksgiving weekend, according to Chicago police.

Last year, 8 people were killed and 20 were wounded in shootings during the same holiday weekend.

Read more: 58 Shot, 8 Fatally, in Thanksgiving Weekend Violence Across Chicago

Stopping the violence in black communities starts at home

By George L. Cook III EMAIL

Every Memorial Day Weekend we all read or watch the stories on Facebook or other media about the number of people shot over the weekend in Chicago. Every year I hope that it's an old story from the previous year, which of course it is not. So far this Memorial day weekend at the time of this posting 49 people have been shot and 4 killed in Chicago.

There will be the usual cries that Rahm Emanuel is not doing enough and that the current police superintendent, Eddie Johnson is not doing enough. Those statements will be followed by the usual calls for better schools and tougher gun laws. Some will blame institutional racism or white supremacy, but no white supremacist shot anyone in Chicago this weekend.

That's all well in good and is most likely those things are true, but that doesn't negate the fact that we the black community must take some of the blame here too.

This is not about agreeing with Bill O'Rielly, Sean Hannity, and those of their ilk, f*ck them! This is about saving our young people dying on the streets including innocent young children riding their bikes or jumping rope. This is about us taking care of us.

Now I know that there are several organizations and churches out there working to stop the violence in black neighborhoods who get little to no press. I know some somehow think that President Obama can somehow do more to keep teenagers and young men children that live in OUR communities from killing each other.

But the fact is church leaders, organizational leaders, and President Obama are not in our homes teaching OUR/YOUR values and right from wrong. That's the parents job. If for some reason the parent can't or won't teach their children to value life then it falls on extended family and the community.

Our children must be taught from an early age that all life including theirs and those that look like them is valuable and not to be taken on a whim. The simple fact of the matter is that when people know better they do better. If a child does not learn that it's not the child's fault but ours.

Yes, we need more programs offering our young men and women more choices of things to do when not in school to keep them off the streets, but the onus is on us to not only demand but to implement those programs. Waiting on the government to fix this problem is like waiting on your cousin who owes you money to pay you back, it isn't happening. We have to not only march and holding prayer vigils but get to work actually doing something in our communities. As individuals, we can volunteer to coach or start a basketball team/league, start scouting troops in your community, mentoring programs, or after-school enrichment programs. I'm sure many of you can think of many more things that we as individuals can do.

We have to do better in keeping OUR children alive. Yes, we must call out government for their part in this, but we must also do our part.

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

NBA player, Bryce Dejean-Jones shot and killed

New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones has died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The Pelicans issued a statement Saturday afternoon confirming the news.

"It is with deep sadness that the Pelicans organization acknowledges the sudden passing of Bryce Dejean-Jones," the statement said. "We are devastated at the loss of this young man's life who had such a promising future ahead of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce's family during this difficult time."

According to a report obtained by the Dallas Morning News, Dallas police officers responded to a call about a shooting at an apartment at about 3:20 a.m. Saturday morning. The resident of the apartment said an individual had kicked open his front door and entered his apartment. The resident, who had been asleep, retrieved a handgun when he heard the individual. After calling out and not receiving an answer, the resident fired his gun at the individual, who left the apartment and collapsed in the breezeway. The individual was transported to the hospital where he died.

Read more: Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones dies after gunshot wound

Is the #NoJusticeNoLebron movement fair to Lebron James

LeBron James spoke publicly for the first time since a grand jury declined to press charges against the police officers responsible for the November 2014 shooting death of Tamir Rice. James has caught a lot of flak for claiming not to know much about the Tamir Rice case. The backlash has lead to the creation of the #NoJusticeNoLebron hashtag which is part of a movement to get Lebron to boycott playing games until justice is served for Tamir Rice.

According to ESPN made the following statement to reporters Lebron James on the topic of the Tamir Rice case:

"But I think the most important thing that we all need to understand, the most important thing, this issue is bigger than LeBron. This issue is bigger than me; it's about everyone. And gun violence and tragedies and kids losing lives at a young age, some way, somehow we need to understand that that matters more than just an individual."

"First of all, I think I've been very outspoken about what I believe in," James said. "What hits home for me, what I am [knowledgeable] about. There's been so many more issues that's gone on that I haven't spoken about.

"There's been the San Bernardino massacre, there's been guys going in movie theaters, shooting up movie theaters, there's been other issues. Those are not something that ... I don't have much knowledge of so I don't speak about it. So for me ... if I feel like it's something that I have a lot of knowledge about [I'll add my voice to the issue], because I don't like to speak when I don't know about it.

After reading his statement do you feel that the whole #NoJusticeNoLebron movement is fair to Lebron? Does he owe something to the people who help him make millions a year?

NBA and its stars airing commercials against gun violence

It seems the NBA is willing to face an NRA backlash and maybe even a financial hit to take a stand against gun violence. In conjunction with Everytown for Gun safety (http://everytown.org/) the NBA has released several anti gun violence ads. Check out one of the commercial featuring current league MVP Stephen Curry below:

SPIKE LEE, OTHERS CALL FOR NATIONAL ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE INITIATIVE

Film director Spike Lee, the director of ChiRaq a movie about gun violence in Chicago and the Reverend Al Sharpton are part of a major new national push to end gun violence. Lew cites the murder of a 9-year-old boy, TyShawn Lee in Chicago as an example of how severe the epidemic has become.

During the press conference Lee pointed out you can't be vocal after Laquann McDonald was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer and silent after 9-year old Tyshawn Lee was killed.

"Tyshawn Lee is led to an alley and executed," he said. "It's not an either/or situation. It has to be both." Watch Spike Lee and others discuss this initiative below.

Just Think Twice: National ad campaign created by teens against gun violence.

Just Think Twice is a new organization founded by teenagers and ran by Mary-Pat Hector to stop gun violence across the United States. The groups mission is to encourage young people to think twice before using a gun.

The group post billboards like the one below in the hopes of stopping gun violence.

On the group's sites it states:

At Just Think Twice, we aim to rebuild hope where it’s been damaged or lost. We firmly believe it takes a village to raise a child, and if you work on creating the most well equipped society you can, so many problems simply work themselves out.

Here are three points posted on the site:

SAFETY, Maintaining healthy, happy environments is an important, and often neglected part of aid work. We work with local community organizers closely.

ACTION, In communities across the World, young people need your support. They need you to join the fight to stop gun violence.

EDUCATION: We need to educate youth on the dangers of gun violence.

Learn more about Just Think Twice here: http://www.justthink2wice.com/