Oakland Pastors join in to show leadership on public safety responses

Special to The Post

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy announced on June 25 a Surgeon General’s Advisory on Firearm Violence, declaring “firearm violence in America to be a public health crisis.”

A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement that calls the American people’s attention to an urgent public health issue. This advisory is the first publication from the Office of the Surgeon General dedicated to gun violence, and it outlines the devastating and far-reaching consequences that firearm violence poses to the health and well-being of the country.

The advisory states since 2020, firearm‑related injury has been the leading cause of death for U.S. children.

On June 26, Live Free CA Clergy Table served as co-conveners of a National Clergy Emergency Strategic Planning Meeting at the White House with Gregory Jackson, Jr., special assistant to the President and deputy director of The Office of Gun Violence Prevention and Rev. Thomas Bowen, senior advisor for Public Engagement for the White House and over 40 faith leaders from around the country to begin the process of developing a wholistic plan of action.

Local clergy leaders Pastor Michael W. Wallace, Pastor Zachary Carey, Bishop Keith Clark of Impact Oakland Now (ION), and Pastor Darnell Hammock of Oakland and Pastor Les Simmons of Sacramento participated in the meeting.

Pastor Wallace spoke at the White House meeting to emphasize the importance of getting the resources to trusted and credible leaders and organizations in the most vulnerable communities and accentuating the critical role of the Black Church and that it must be included in the strategy.

“For the Black Church remains the trusted voice with trusted information and proven leadership in addressing the critical issues facing our communities,” he said.

After years of heavy lifting, relentless organizing, and unwavering advocacy through LIVE FREE, under the national leadership of Pastor Mike McBride, the proper designation of gun violence has taken place. These clergy leaders share the belief that a meaningful public health approach is critical to prevent gun violence and brings together a wide-range of experts across various disciplines—including researchers, advocates, legislators, community-based organizations, faith leaders and others—in a common effort to develop, evaluate, and properly implement equitable, evidence-based solutions to this national crisis.

Pastor Wallace of Oakland says, “the Live Free CA Table is fully committed to working to alleviate the Gun Violence Crisis in America that is having a devastating impact on our children, families, congregations and communities.”

Wallace further states, “This historic announcement by the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Advisory that “Firearm Violence: A Public Health Crisis in America” will cause a major shift in the approach to stop gun violence and the allocation of resources to directly address the real root causes to help to alleviate this crisis.”

Studies have shown that such high levels of exposure to firearm violence for both children and adults give rise to a cycle of trauma and fear within our communities, contributing to the nation’s mental health crisis.

This Advisory describes the public health crisis of firearm violence in America and describes strategies for firearm injury and violence prevention, with a focus on the health and well-being of children, families, and communities.

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