(New Orleans, LA. – May 5, 2016) A coalition of gun violence prevention (GVP) activists in New Orleans announced its participation in a national Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, scheduled for Sunday, September 25, 2016. The New Orleans event, to be hosted by Second Line Brewing, will be one of several concerts held across the United States, each connected via social media and online at www.ConcertAcrossAmerica.org.
“Whether at one of the designated venues or at a place of worship, we can all take a stand against gun violence. Let’s band together,” said Father Bill Terry of St. Anna’s Episcopal Church. “New Orleans hosts great festivals with high profile artists all year, please consider lending your talents to the Concert Across America too.”
“New Orleans is the home of a rich history of musical tradition and innovation, however our murder rate continues to be one of the highest in the nation,” said Victoria Coy, Executive Director of Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition. “We are excited to be working with the community to use one of our greatest strengths to defeat our greatest weakness.”
“As a native New Orleanian, a gun owner and a musician, I’ve struggled with the dual reputation of my city as being both violent and artistic,” said local concert coordinator Chad Stoulig “Our creative community must work together to find a creative solution to our violence problem.”
Local partners include Louisiana Progress, Preservation Hall Foundation and the Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition. More partnerships expected to be added soon.
Lineups for the New Orleans concert and other events will be announced this summer. For more information about the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence, visit the website and for tickets click here.
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About the Concert Across America
This nationwide event 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. Boston, in partnership with Stop Handgun Violence, was the first city to announce participation. New Orleans is the second. For more information visit www.ConcertAcrossAmerica.org.
The Louisiana Violence Reduction Coalition is a coalition of community organizations, activists and faith based groups. Together the coalition seeks to empower violence reduction work through education, public awareness, community outreach and legislative action.