National Day of Social Action in Selma addresses gun violence tomorrow

McRae-Gaines Learning Center's National Day of Social Action in Selma will address gun violence between at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow. 

The occasion is part of the center's Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom School being hosted at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church since June 12. 

"This Wednesday, July 19, 2023, is our National Day of Social Action, which caps off the six weeks of reading and discussion at each child’s level about how to ultimately make a difference in themselves, their families, their community, nation, and world," said a press release from the McRae-Gaines Learning Center.

"The focus for NDSA this year is on gun violence, chosen at the National Training for Executive Directors and Project Directors in Knoxville TN by hundreds of participants from all over the United States."

The center shared dated regarding gun violence statistics in the U.S.: 

• Firearms are the number one cause of death for children and youth.
• Child and teen gun deaths hit a record high in 2021 with 4,739 children and young people’s futures erased.
• 13 children die from gun violence every day.
• Black children and teens have the highest gun death rate, followed by American Indian and Alaskan Native children and teens.
• Black children are 6 times as likely to die from gun violence as their white peers.
• Half of all child and teen gun related deaths occurred in just ten states: Texas, California, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.

The center's goals are the following: 

• Understand the mental and physical impact of gun violence on scholars and communities.
• Amplify scholar’s visions for safe communities.
• Encourage communities to hold community members accountable in the fight for safer communities.

Former Selma City Council Member Angela Benjamin will join participants at 1:45 p.m. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church to share their thoughts about gun violence. 

The church is located at 1548 FD Reese Street.