Press Release: From Gun Violence Victims Urging Voters to Support Candidates Who Favor Sensible Gun Laws. 
Billboards sponsored by Stop Handgun Violence of Massachusetts and Parkland, Florida-based Change the Ref.
Boston, MA –
Today, Stop Handgun Violence and Change the Ref will unveil a new billboard designed by artist Manuel Oliver, the father of 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The billboard features the face of Joaquin Oliver with the words “I was murdered. I can’t vote. Vote for me.”
The billboard, which also features the tagline Gun Laws Save Lives and the hashtag #VOTEFORUS,” will be on display at 50 Dalton St., Boston MA and in donated digital billboards in the following locations:
- Boston — Theatre District
- New York — Times Square
- Miami — Causeway between Downtown Miami and South Beach
- Atlanta — Centennial Olympic Park
- Las Vegas — Adjacent to the Convention Center
Several of the sites were chosen because of their prominent locations and because states like Florida, Nevada and Georgia are considered swing states or have hotly contested Congressional races.
“My son was one of 40,000 Americans who died in 2018 due to gun violence and one of 150,000 Americans who have died since the last presidential election” said Manuel Oliver, father of Joaquin Oliver and co-founder, along with his wife Patricia, of Change the Ref. “I can’t get my son back, he can’t get his voice back, but we can honor him this November by voting for candidates who support effective national gun laws that will work to prevent gun deaths.”
“When we elect candidates that prioritize gun violence prevention, we save lives” said John Rosenthal, founder and president of Stop Handgun Violence. “In Massachusetts, we’ve passed some of the strongest gun laws in the country- with bipartisan support. We’ve proven that gun laws save lives without undue inconvenience to law abiding gun owners like me. This isn’t about parties or politics, it’s about saving lives from preventable gun violence. Lives are on the line this November, we have a duty to vote for candidates who want to end the daily mass shootings and average 100 gun deaths and 150 gun related injuries every day in America.”
“As an outdoor advertising company, our medium helps to communicate messages. We are happy to help as many people see this message as possible” said Mark Van Fossan, Managing Partner of Amherst Media. “Gun violence is an important issue in America, and all Americans have a duty to get out and vote this November.”
Read the Boston Globe coverage here.
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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 the most effective gun violence prevention laws and 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
Change the Ref- Change the Ref- CTR) Founded in the memory of their son Joaquin, who was one of the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL, Manuel and Patricia Oliver are committed to making sure that their son’s life and the lives of the other 16 victims are never forgotten and that real change takes place to prevent future tragedies like this from happening ever again. CTR Mission is to raise awareness about mass shootings through strategic urban art interventions that will reduce the influence of the NRA on the Federal level. For more information, go to.www.changetheref.org