Aiming for Peace in 217

The First Followers Reentry program hosted an online event on local gun violence with a conversation among those impacted by that violence. The video is available here (link jumps to beginning of the discussion after some initial setup).

The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Regina Parnell and included personal perspectives from many community members on their personal and family losses and experiences with gun violence locally. Some of the panelists were members of the First Followers GoMAD (Make a Difference) program.

The effects of gun violence were discussed, but so too were thee causes: a lack of unity, resources, and path towards human dignity and healing families. A need for hope and programs that work for those who don't feel valued as human beings or that they're even likely to survive their circumstances was discussed.

Survivors explained the enduring hurt and grief, how they deal with it and fight to prevent others from having to go through the same hurt. There was a desire to make potential perpetrators to understand the reality and permanence of their actions, not just on their victims and families, but to their own lives and families.

There was a question and answer portion that prioritized the impacted community after the initial discussion. About a hundred community members participated in the online event and participated in the chat comments and question opportunities.

Concerns were raised about the coronavirus situation creating more time on the hands of people inclined to start trouble. Many of the perspectives focused on the need to understand what people are going through and not dismissing them as someone else's problem. Dr. Parnell explained this isn't a white or black issue as much as it is a community issue and that we need to come together as one. James "Tygar" Corbin put it, this is affecting all of us. A shooting involves losing two possible productive members of society.

There was a followup event for 18-24 year olds to continue the discussion.

In related news today, the News-Gazette had an article about the increasing gun violence in Champaign-Urbana after a record year in 2019:

In Champaign and Urbana, a tiny percentage of the population is making life miserable for a larger share of their neighbors by taking up arms for reasons labeled senseless, mind-boggling, frustrating and tragic.

As of last week, there had been about 54 shootings in Champaign since the beginning of the year.

That number represents a confirmation of shots having been fired. Not all resulted in physical damage to people or property but have done immeasurable damage to the quality of life.

“That is a little bit ahead of pace for us from last year,” Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb reported to the Community Coalition.

Cobb reminded them that the 100 shootings in 2019 made for a “record year.”

That full article available here.