(BOSTON, MA, May 19, 2016) — The “Concert Across America to End Gun Violence,” a network of activists and artists across the country, will mark the start of the annual of NRA convention by releasing “Hallelujah,” a video on YouTube, calling attention to America’s high gun death rate.
The singers, Naked Voices, an a cappella group from the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), teamed up with the Coalition Against Gun Violence in Santa Barbara to produce the video, which can be watched here:
Release of “Hallelujah” also coincides with the second anniversary of the deadly shooting in Isla Vista, California near UCSB that left 7 dead and 14 injured on May 23, 2014.
“Veronika loved music,” said Bob Weiss, father of one of the UCSB victims. “Remembering her, as well as all the victims of gun violence, with music strengthens our resolve to work toward a more harmonious future where our nation no longer suffers nearly 90 gun deaths every day.”
John Rosenthal, Founder of Stop Handgun Violence in Boston, said that tragedies like the Santa Barbara shooting happen all too often in the U.S.
“It’s a shame that Congress refuses to acknowledge that sensible gun laws could prevent mass shootings that seem to have become routine,” Rosenthal said. “It’s about time Congress stood up to the National Rifle Association (NRA) and approved a comprehensive background check to keep guns out of the hands of felons, domestic abusers and the dangerously mentally ill.”
Boston and New Orleans are the first two cities to announce participation in the “Concert Across America to End Gun Violence” — a series of musical events to be held on Sunday, September 25. Santa Barbara is expected to announce soon.
The song, “Hallelujah,” was licensed by the Santa Barbara organizers of the “Concert Across America to End Gun Violence,” and can be used by the media up until Sunday, Sept. 25 to promote the events and the cause of gun violence prevention (GVP) in America. The statistics set to music in “Hallelujah” can be found on the websites of the national gun violence prevention organizations.
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The Concert Across America will take place on Sunday, Sept. 25, the day Congress designated in 2007 as a day of remembrance of murder victims. It will bring together a network of organizations, activists and artists with the dual goals of keeping guns out of dangerous hands and making the issue of illegal guns top of mind for members of Congress, the presidential candidates, and the American people as they go to the polls in November, 2016. For more information visit www.RememberSept25.org.
Stop Handgun Violence (SHV) is a Massachusetts based non-profit organization committed to the prevention of gun violence through education, public awareness, effective law enforcement and common sense gun laws. SHV has been the lead advocate in Massachusetts for enactment of some of the most effective gun violence prevention laws and of first in the nation consumer protection regulations. The organization does not seek to restrict Constitutional rights, but advocates only for common sense legislation that will help save lives. For more information, go to www.stophandgunviolence.org