Black and Brown Gun Violence Prevention Groups Praise Historic $5B Commitment to Community Violence Initiatives

MARCH 31, 2021 — Today representatives of Black and Brown Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety groups issued this statement in response to President Biden’s Infrastructure Package Announcement:

“For decades, Black and Brown communities have borne the disproportionate impact of interpersonal gun violence in our country. Today, we celebrate President Biden’s historic $5B commitment to fund community violence intervention and community based public safety solutions. With this investment of our federal tax dollars, we have an unprecedented opportunity to build an infrastructure of peace to heal and disrupt cycles of violence. By leveraging the expertise of those directly impacted by gun related trauma, we can shift from harm-based responses to violence to public health strategies that prioritize transformation and community empowerment.

Our Fund Peace coalition calls on Congress to support this bold and necessary investment by the Biden Administration. The totality of this Infrastructure Package will provide expedited and sustained relief and opportunity to our most vulnerable Americans.”

Fatimah Loren Dreier, Executive Director of the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, adds: "Gun violence is a public health emergency in black and brown communities. Community violence intervention and prevention programs are powerful engines for transformation to address trauma and interrupt cycles of violence. With a $5 billion investment, these public health approaches, which have been developed over decades, will at last be brought to scale. We are immensely grateful for President Biden's unprecedented commitment to racial equity and healing.”

Fund Peace Leadership Table: Eddie Bocanegro, Heartland Alliance; Dr. Shani Buggs, University of California – Davis; Antonio Cediel, Faith in Action’s LIVE FREE USA; Mike De La Rocha, Revolve Impact; Erica Ford, Life Camp, Inc.; Greg Jackson, Community Justice Action Fund; Fatimah Loren Dreier, Health Alliance for Violence Intervention; Oresa Napper-Williams, Not Another Child; Anthony Smith, Cities United; Dr. Chico Tillmon, Gun Violence Prevention Expert; Pastor Michael McBride, Faith In Action’s LIVE FREE USA