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The issue of gun violence has no doubt been a hot topic over the last few months, with Chicago ending 2012 with over 500 murders and countless young people losing their life to senseless violence, it’s causes a ton of celebrities to speak up. Starring in a nationwide PSA after Newton, Beyonce’ lent her voice to the cause and most recently Drake and Snoop Lion also dropped verses on the cause in their new single “No Guns Allowed.” Sadly the bill President Obama was pushing for didn’t get passed,but that is not stopping BET, Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and a few more celebrities from speaking up, in honor of Mother’s Day!
“The day Hadiya was born my life began and the day she died I thought it was the end of mine, until I realized it was the beginning of my new life – as an activist,” said Cleopatra Pendleton, mother of slain 15-year-old Chicago student Hadiya Pendleton, during an emotionally charged speech at the launch of MOTHERS ON A MISSION: AGAINST URBAN GUN VIOLENCE.
Hosted by BET Networks and The National Action Network, M.O.M.: AGAINST URBAN GUN VIOLENCE seeks to reclaim the true meaning of Mother’s Day by “appealing to women throughout the world” to unite for peace.
Pendleton noted that while Hadiya was the “. . . 42nd child killed at the hands of gun violence in 2013,” there have been countless others after and the numbers continue to rise. Speaking to the importance of stricter gun laws, “I’ve been travelling all over to bring awareness to violence and some people say I should sit down, but I say no. It’s time for you to get up!”
MOTHERS ON A MISSION: AGAINST URBAN GUN VIOLENCE also shared a “5 Point Call to Action” for mothers during the month of May:
1. Find a local anti-violence program in your area and donate time and/or money.
2. Work with other mothers to petition your local community center or place of worship to stay open during extended hours to provide conflict resolution and anti-violence programming for youth especially during summer months.3. Contact elected officials and make your voice heard about gun violence.
4. Work with local organizations like National Action Network on programs like “Occupy the Corners.”
5. Lend your time to mentoring youth in your local community.
As part of the campaign, mothers are called to log on to BET.comon Mother’s Day to leave a personal message about how other mothers can be a beacon of peace in their communities. Participants are also encouraged to tweet messages of peace using the hashtag #DISARM. Grammy Award-winning singers Monica and Fantasia and actress Tichina Arnold are just a few celebrities who are taking part in the Mothers on a Mission Against Urban Gun Violence campaign.
Sharpton added that Mother’s Day should be used for “real commitment” to the community and to bring “a real awakening! Shout out to BET, National Action Network and all of the celebrities supporting this campaign, remember to chime in on Twitter the official hashtag is #DISARM.
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