GOSO’s Chief Advocacy Officer Omar Jackson and Director of Programs Nicole Myers, both of the Stand Against Violence East Harlem (SAVE) Team, were invited to join others dedicated to violence prevention, as well as elected officials, to the White House in commemoration of President Biden’s signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

The event, held on the South Lawn of the White House, included survivors and families of recent mass shootings in the United States, and was a poignant reminder of the tragedy of gun violence in our nation. The devastation brought by gun violence does not discriminate, and at every level of government, the attendees all agreed that our leaders must act.

The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, represents the first significant federal gun reform in decades, and Vice President Kamala Harris noted was “long overdue.” Signed into law in late June, the bill provides a host of responses to the ongoing crisis of gun violence. From strengthening background checks and red flag laws, to providing mental health and school-based supports, it is a critical first step in finally addressing a deadly crisis.