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[Page H4398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GUN VIOLENCE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley) for 5 minutes.
Ms. PRESSLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the mothers, fathers,
brothers, and daughters, the classmates and coworkers, the surviving
family and community members, all of whom have been robbed of loved
ones due to senseless acts of gun violence.
I rise on behalf of mothers with broken spirits and broken hearts.
I rise on behalf of fathers with deep wounds and invisible scars, a
lifetime of guilt because they couldn't keep their child out of harm's
way.
{time} 1045
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of young boys and girls, children
traumatized and sad because they have attended more funerals than
graduation parties.
I rise on behalf of survivors, community organizations, and advocates
who selflessly trigger their own trauma to stand on the front lines of
justice and movement building.
I rise on behalf of districts like mine, the Massachusetts Seventh,
that are weighed down by systemic inequities, generational poverty, and
cycles of violence.
Today, in partnership with organizers, advocates, and survivors, I am
calling for a National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month to
amplify the voices of families and communities severely and
disproportionately impacted by gun violence; to center their struggles,
their stories, their truths; to foster peace; and to seek justice.
Already this year, 16 families across the Massachusetts Seventh have
been robbed of their loved ones. I rise in remembrance of them and in
recognition of those they left behind:
Emmanuel Molin, 32, survived by his two sons, mother, father, and
five siblings;
Godfrey Jenkins Hall, 28, survived by his son, brother, and aunt;
Carl Reynolds, 28, survived by his mother, father, siblings, and
daughter;
Gary Brown, 34, survived by his son and sister;
Jeudy Romero, 29, survived by five children, fiance, father, and
siblings;
Juan Morales, 32, survived by his three children;
Kasim Kahrim, 36, survived by his sisters, aunts, and uncles;
Kendric Price, 32, survived by his mother, grandmother, brothers, and
godchildren;
Haki Sanders, 33, survived by his mother;
Eleanor Maloney, 74, survived by three daughters, a son, six
grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and four siblings;
Michael Dukes, 53, survived by his mother, father, five children, one
grandson, sister, and dear friends;
Kevin Boyd, 53, survived by his wife, two sons, grandchildren, and
brother;
Kevin Brewington, 33, survived by his mother, father, son, brothers,
and sisters;
Donell Davis, 24, survived by his mother, brothers, and sister;
Carl Brown, 43, survived by his child; and
Luckinson Oruma, 60, survived by his wife and five children.
Tomorrow will mark the anniversary of 49 souls lost, lives we were
robbed of 3 years ago at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and the fear
and trauma of those who survived and the families and loved ones that
they left behind.
May we remember them. May we speak up for them. May we fight to
ensure that there is no one else like them.
Long gone are the days of thoughts and prayers. Now is the time for
outrage, equitable outrage, policy, and change. This is a public health
crisis, an epidemic.
Bullets do not discriminate. They don't care if we are a Member of
Congress, a World Series champion, a senior citizen, or a child.
It is up to Congress to demonstrate courage, to do what is right for
our children, for our communities, for all survivors impacted by gun
violence.
Enough is enough. These survivors deserve our respect. They deserve
our resources. They deserve healing. They deserve justice.
In districts like the Massachusetts Seventh, community-based
organizations are doing their job every day: Violence in Boston,
Operation LIPSTICK, We Are Better Together, the Louis D. Brown Peace
Institute, the Justice Resource Institute, the Women Survivors of
Homicide Movement, and the Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy project.
Our Suffolk County D.A., Rachael Rollins, is fighting every day to
improve our clearance rates to get these surviving family members the
justice they deserve.
It is time for Congress to do our job. Enough is enough.
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