According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States.
In Long Beach, gun violence has tragically claimed the lives of many children. Most recently, 12-year-old Eric Gregory Brown III, who was killed in a drive-by shooting that also wounded a 14-year-old girl.
School shootings, mall shootings and even church shootings frequently make headlines in America, fueling political debates over the necessity of strict gun laws.
In response to the repeated loss of young lives, a movement called Here 4 the Kids has emerged. Started by Black, brown, Indigenous, and women of color, the movement aims to mobilize white women to advocate for a state-by-state complete ban on guns.
The movement asserts that white women are less likely to face police brutality and possess various privileges and sources of power that could expedite change and prevent further loss of young lives.
Members of Here 4 the Kids have identified Denver, Colorado as their Selma and the starting point of their movement. The group is specifically urging 25,000 white women to convene in Denver on June 5 at 5 a.m. to demand Colorado Governor Jared Polis sign an executive order banning guns and implementing a statewide buyback program.
Long Beach residents Brittany Hart Scholten and Kailee Caruso—a former City Council candidate—will be in attendance on June 5. On this episode of The Word, they explain why they think a full gun ban is necessary and why white women everywhere should join the movement.
To learn more about the Here 4 Kids you can visit their website or follow them on Instagram.