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Honoring Nia Black by declaring June 13th 2021 as Community Gun Violence Awareness Day.
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WHEREAS Nia Black, born on March 5, 1997, was an Aveda alumnus, business owner, and valued member of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, founder and owner of Brooklyn Black, LLC and Project Brooklyn, Nia highlighted the talent of local Twin Cities’ artists, served as an outlet for beauty industry professionals and had the vision to take the models Nationwide; and
WHEREAS, on June 13, 2020, twenty-three-year-old Nia Black was at a Saint Paul bar where over 60 gunshots were directed at patrons in the parking lot, Nia was tragically shot and killed, Nia should now be celebrating her 24th birthday; and
WHEREAS, Black Americans are over ten times more likely to be murdered by firearm than their white counterparts, over the past decade (2010-2019), 71,994 Black Americans died by firearm homicide; and
WHEREAS, the trauma of community gun violence extends beyond those who are directly injured by shootings to those in the community who are exposed indirectly as witnesses, those indirectly and directly impacted by community gun violence experience lasting effects on health and wellbeing; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul has seen an increase in gun violence with over 220 people shot in 2020 including 28 fatalities and 63 people shot through May 21, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council in partnership with Mayor Melvin Carter, has initiated a Community First Public Safety program to address root causes of crime and violence; and
WHEREAS, to help honor Nia Black, as well as the 27 other people whose lives were cut short by gun violence in St Paul in 2020 and the countless survivors who are injured by gun violence, Nia’s mother, LaTanya Black founded Mothers Against Community Gun Violence (MACGV) a national organization to fight community gun violence and support families affected by and living with the loss of a loved one through homicide; and
WHEREAS, anyone who has been affected by or is concerned about community gun violence encouraged to come out and Peace Walk for the change they want to see in their community; and
WHEREAS, MACGV will conduct their second annual Community Peace Walk in Saint Paul calling on community members to place Not On My Block signs in their windows and yards symbolizing the value of human life and that they are a community member invested in their neighborhood’s safety, "Communities Keepers,"
WHEREAS, we walk on June 13, 2021, to help raise awareness about community gun violence, honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors, and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, to encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our children and communities safe; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council recognizes the life and contributions of Nia Black and stands with Mother’s Against Community Gun Violence in their mission to reduce community gun violence deaths, and injuries, by bringing awareness to community gun violence in communities of colors, both here in Minnesota as well as nationally; and now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul City Council encourages all citizens to support proactive and reactive efforts to curb and stop the tragic effects of community gun violence to honor and value human life; and be it
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Saint Paul City Council declares Sunday, June 13, 2021 as Community Gun Violence Awareness Day honoring Nia Black