Violence Interrupters

This week for the first time, the federal government formally declared what we have long known: gun violence is a public health crisis.

As Iranian writer Dina Nayeri said, “It is the obligation of every person born in a safer room to open the door when someone in danger knocks.”

This week, President Joe Biden took bold action to provide protections and opportunities for many of our undocumented neighbors.

This week, Congress took an important step toward addressing the painful legacy of Indian boarding schools.

On Thursday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (H.R. 7227) with overwhelming bipartisan support.

We hope Congress will move swiftly to bring this bill to the floor and pass it so that we can begin the long overdue work of truth, justice, and healing for Native communities.

Disagreements disproportionately turn violent in marginalized communities plagued with disinvestment, oppression, and a history of trauma. We must look to intervention models that work to prevent neighborhood gun violence.

The intersection of U.S. housing policies and community violence illuminates a stark reality: systemic racism has perpetuated socio-economic disparities linked to increased urban violence. Investing in violence interrupter (VI) programs is an imperative step to breaking this cycle, offering localized solutions to mitigate and strategically confront violence rooted in systemic racism.

Conflict is a normal part of life. However, in a country where guns outnumber people, altercations can become deadly. Disagreements disproportionately turn violent in marginalized communities plagued with disinvestment, oppression, and a history of trauma. We must look to intervention models that work to prevent neighborhood gun violence.

Violence interrupters offer a unique, community-led approach to reducing violence and conflict. But concerningly, funding for these programs is now under threat.

For decades, policymakers have debated how to address the epidemic of gun violence affecting communities across the United States. Traditionally, localities have responded to community-level violence by increasing the presence of a militarized police force. This approach has repeatedly failed, with sometimes fatal consequences that compound trauma and increase the likelihood of future violence. 

Violence interrupter programs are community-based initiatives that use peacebuilding approaches to stop incidents of community violence before they occur. These programs take people who understand the challenges unique to their community and utilize that knowledge to interrupt violence.

Instead of giving the Pentagon and weapons contractors an additional $16.4 billion to fund their wish list for weapons and war, the American people deserve to get their own unfunded needs met. This year, FCNL’s People’s Unfunded Priorities List highlights four key areas where these additional funds could be better spent supporting human needs.