CHARLOTTE, N.C.Β β Charlotte is seeing aΒ 40% increase in homicidesΒ this year as deadly shootings are on the rise. In response, local gun violence survivors will join national public safety leader Aswad Thomas for a powerful community event on Saturday, July 13. Crime victims will tell their stories, and call for urgent solutions to growing violence and the trauma left in its wake.
In collaboration with Survivors Nation, the event is part of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice’s βRight to Healβ Tour, a multi-city community event series that offers a unique venue for survivors, advocates, and stakeholders to share their experiences, insights, and public safety vision. Together, participants will discuss the βRight to Healβ policy agenda and the first-everΒ Crime Survivors Speak March on WashingtonΒ in September. Ten Charlotte organizations are slated to march this fall on behalf of crime survivors in their community.
Details
WHEN:Β Saturday, July 13, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. EDT
WHERE:Β Allegra WestBrooks Regional Library – Beatties Ford Road, 2412 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28216
WHO:Β Victim advocates, crime survivors, and activists:
Aswad Thomas, a survivor of gun violence and National Director of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
Shonda Lifhred,Β a local survivor of gun violence and founder of Survivors Nation
WHY:Β As crime victims, there are two things we want the most. We want what happened to us to never happen again, to us, or someone else. We also want victims’ rights but with a different approach.Β For too long, the popular use of the phrase βvictim rightsβ has been synonymous with punishment and used by systems that most victims not only do not use but that too often contribute to more harm and trauma. What would it look like ifΒ βvictim rightsβΒ were synonymous with healing? How many victims could we better serve with an informational card titledΒ βRight to Healβ detailing the right to heal through access, protection, and safety?
Ten organizations from Charlotte will be attending the first-ever Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington. The organizations joining the march are:
- Angelsofnomercy
- Block Love Charlotte
- Gryphon Group Advisory + Consulting
- Urban Sauce Connection, Inc
- BVP Project Safe Haven (formerly Butterfly Visions Project)
- Helping Hands of Carolinas
- Winners PLUS Inc. and United Council For Change
- Survivors Nation LLC Hands of Carolinas
- Break Every Chain Resource Center
- STOP Killing Our Children Support Group
- Take Back Our H.O.O.D.S.
