Shawanna Vaughn to Host Special Service to End Gun Violence in Harlem

 

By Gary Glennell Toms

Harlem, NY – In response to the wave of gun violence in Harlem, activist and New York State Assembly candidate Shawanna Vaughn has vowed to take action. “We expect nothing but ‘thoughts and prayers’ from our elected officials and that’s unacceptable. And that’s why I’m running for the Assembly because things need to change in Harlem,” said Vaughn.

The candidate, a native of Bakersfield, California, and longtime advocate for ending gun violence, believes that systemic changes are needed to end the shootings plaguing the community. “We have Democrats in every part of government, but we see more violence,” Vaughn stated. “We have leaders who have been in office for more than 30 years, but we still have a violence. We need people who come from the places where change is needed in leadership.”

When Harlem was celebrating Father’s Day weekend, and amid Juneteenth celebrations, gun violence erupted. By the time the shooting stopped, eight people were wounded and a college basketball star, Darius Lee, had been killed. According to Vaughn, her goal is to bring solutions to the community, not rhetoric. “When I’m elected, I’m going to fight for funding for mental health services, employment opportunities for youth, entrepreneurship training, and affordable housing,” Vaughn proclaimed. “We need to get to the core of the issues hurting Harlem and the root causes of gun violence in order to end it.”

The event will focus on healing and offer resources to those experiencing trauma as a result of the shootings. Ruth McDaniels will lead a community prayer.

Vaughn believes changing Harlem involves more than placing new people in leadership positions. “It also involves making attitude adjustments about the expectations of leadership in elected officials. People don’t expect much from elected officials and that’s a shame. My heart is in this. My energy is in this. My life is in this. We need elected officials who will fight for the community instead of whatever special interest is knocking at the front door. That’s why I’m running. That’s why I’m gonna win,” she concluded.

Photo credit: Keston Duke