GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION GROUPS UNITE WITH LGBTQ, CIVIL RIGHTS AND OTHER GROUPS TO HOLD EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION TO #DISARMHATE TO END GUN VIOLENCE

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION GROUPS UNITE WITH LGBTQ, CIVIL RIGHTS AND OTHER GROUPS TO HOLD EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION TO #DISARMHATE TO END GUN VIOLENCE

Newtown,CT/Washington D.C.-After the tragic mass shooting in Orlando where 49 people were killed and 53 injured by a gunman with an assault weapon in a gay nightclub, Jason Hayes, a celebrity hairdresser from New Jersey, is organizing the #DisarmHate 2016 Rally on Saturday, August 13th in Washington D.C. to push for LGBTQ rights and realistic gun reform. Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder and President, National Action Network, Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers and Martin Luther King, III will hold a unity rally at the NRA office in Washington D.C. on August 27th, to commemorate the historic anniversary of the March on Washington—highlighting the need for reform and to make ALL communities safe from gun violence.

The #DisarmHate2016 Rally, Newtown Action Alliance, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, the National Action Network, American Federation of Teachers, Gays Against Guns and other organizations are uniting to hold #DisarmHate2016 National Weeks of Action in the 50 states from August 13th through August 27th to end all forms of discrimination and gun violence. Marches, rallies, prayer services and social media campaigns will focus on asking Congressional members to 1) publicly support gun violence prevention measures such as expanded background checks, closing the terror gap, ending the ban on gun violence research, repealing PLCAA, an assault weapons ban and limits of high capacity magazines 2) call on their leadership for a vote on these bills.

Jason Hayes, the Founder and Organizer of the #DisarmHate2016 Rally stated “After the Orlando shooting, I was unable to sit idle any longer. Changing my Facebook pic wasn’t changing anything. I knew I had to do something to Disarm Hate. I am organizing a Rally in Washington, DC to protest for LGBTQA Equal Rights and Realistic Gun Law reform in this country now. We cannot wait any longer. We must stand up and make our voices heard. Our Politicians have failed us. Our sense of safety in the most basic of places has been shattered.”

Po Murray, Chairman of Newtown Action Alliance stated “”Newtown Action Alliance is pleased to support the August 13th #DisarmHate 2016 rally, the August 27th National Action Network rally and we strongly support the the National Weeks of Action in the states to hold Congress accountable. There have been more than 110,000 gun deaths since the Sandy Hook tragedy and there have been no Congressional action to tackle the epidemic of gun violence in our nation. It’s time for Americans to out shout the gun lobby and we will do so by uniting the gun violence prevention community with the LGBTQ, Black, Muslim, Latino, law enforcement and other communities to tackle all forms of gun violence and discrimination.”

Dan Gross, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said, “While members of Congress are soaking up the sun during a particularly long recess, 90 Americans are dying every single day. This epidemic doesn’t just stop when Congress’ vacation begins. We’re proud to stand with our allies tomorrow in saying #ENOUGH of the feckless politicians whose opposition to sensible policy arms hate. It’s time to hold them accountable. So for the rest of the summer, we’re going to keep up the pressure and turn up the heat. Congress must get back to work and when they do, stopping gun violence must be the top priority.”

Julia Wyman, the Executive Director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence stated “The 31 individual state based gun violence prevention groups that banner together through States United to Prevent Gun Violence exist because certain members of Congress refuse to implement meaningful gun violence prevention measures to keep Americans safe at home in our communities. We applaud the passionate work of certain members of Congress who have bravely stood with us and with Jason Hayes and the National Action Network as we amplify their passionate work throughout the country at our brother and sister rallies during the 2 weeks of action to DisarmHate.

###

The #DisarmHate2016 Rally was founded and being organized by Jason Hayes, a celebrity hairdresser who was moved to action after June 12, 2016 Orlando Pulse shooting where 49 people were killed and 53 were injured.

The Newtown Action Alliance (www.newtownaction.org) is a grassroots organization formed after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It works to make America’s children, families, and all citizens safer through legislative and cultural change that will reduce gun violence in our nation.

The Brady Campaign and Center, united with the Million Mom March, is a national network of more than 90 grassroots chapter affiliates mobilized to prevent gun violence at the community level. The network has played a vital role in expanding Brady background checks in the six states that have passed legislation since the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut and produced the largest national protest of gun violence in U.S history – The Million Mom March, Mother’s Day 2000.

States United to Prevent Gun Violence and SUPGV Action Fund (SUPGV.org) is a national non-profit organization consisting of 31 individual state based grassroots organizations- working together to create a 50 state solution to gun violence at the local and state level.

#DisarmHate2016 Rally

Jason Hayes

(202) 838-6853

disarmhate2016@gmail.com

Newtown Action Alliance

John Kelley

917-679-6475

jkelley@newtownaction.org

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Brendan Kelly

202-370-8131

States United to Prevent Gun Violence