WASHINGTON – Today, in conjunction with Gun Violence Awareness Month and the 5^th Annual National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced a resolution to honor survivors of homicide victims by establishing National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month.  For every one homicide victim, there are at least 10 surviving family members who suffer in the aftermath of homicide. Congresswoman Pressley’s resolution is a first step towards promoting awareness on the intergenerational, traumatic, and lasting impacts of gun violence on families and communities.

“Justice for survivors of homicide victims is long overdue,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “The systemic public health crisis that is gun violence has intergenerational impacts on families and communities throughout the Massachusetts 7^th and throughout the world. I am proud to introduce a House Resolution today to establish National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month, which will honor the voices and lived experiences of survivors. As we commemorate National Gun Violence Awareness Day today, my resolution affirms the humanity and dignity of survivors who are constantly battling with the trauma of gun violence.” 

The resolution is supported by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, a healing and trauma support center based in Dorchester, Massachusetts, focused on caring for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss:

“At the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute, we have learned that prevention is the best way to honor families of homicide victim and we stand proudly with so many others in this effort,” said Louis D. Brown Peace Institute Founder and CEO, Chaplain Clementina Chery. “We also know that homicides continue to happen, and that is why we were proud to introduce this resolution in the Massachusetts State House 19 years ago. We are humbled to work with Congresswoman Pressley to introduce the resolution that will now set a precedent that transforms the way society responds to families impacted by murder.  As the oldest Survivor-led organization in the state of Massachusetts, we stand with survivors across the United States in their pain and in their healing journeys.”

Congresswoman Pressley is a long-time champion for gun violence prevention.  She currently serves as a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and she helped pass  H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act – two long-overdue, bipartisan gun violence prevention bills. While serving as a Councilwoman on the Boston City Council, she hosted listening sessions on violence and trauma, giving survivors the space to be heard by government officials and the community.

To view the resolution, click here.

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