Around 100 people walked against gun violence in Providence on Saturday. The walk began at Central High School on Fricker Street and concluded at the south side of the Rhode Island State House. Organized by gun violence survivor Shawndell Burney-Speaks, who also serves as an advisor the Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and State Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (Democrat, District 5, Providence), people spoke about their experiences surviving gun violence, the effects gun violence has on communities of color, and actions that need to be taken to prevent gun violence in the future.
Here's all the video:
"You're here because you know that it's not okay when mothers are burying their children," said Representative Ranglin-Vassell. "You're here because gun violence is a public health issue. You're here because you believe that the General Assembly must stop sitting on our hands and do some robust investments into our core urban areas."
Harrison Tuttle, executive director of the Black Lives Matter RI PAC:
James Vincent, President of the NAACP Providence Branch:
Representative Ranglin-Vassell:
Lisa Ranglin, President and founder of the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA):
Gemelya Barros, whose daughter Shemeeka was killed in 2012:
Marcia Ranglin-Vassell:
Shawndell Burney-Speaks, who organized the event:
The march:
Representative Ranglin-Vassell:
Reverend Howard Jenkins:
Representative Ranglin-Vassell:
Rhode Island State Senator Kendra Anderson (Democrat, District 31, Warwick, Cranston):
Harrison Tuttle:
Shawndell Burney-Speaks:
James Vincent, NAACP Providence:
Central Falls City Council President Jessica Vega:
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza:
Providence City Councilmember Nirva Lafortune:
Representative Ranglin-Vassell:
Lisa Ranglin:
Lisa Pina-Warren, Nonviolence Institute:
Providence City Councilmember John Goncalves (Ward 1):
Gemelya Barros:
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