“We have to raise our voices and say ‘enough is enough'”

On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Congressman Adriano Espaillat and Manhattan Councilman Shaun Abreu marched through upper Manhattan.

Together with members of the community, Espaillat and Abreu offered a press conference to honor the victims and survivors of violence with firearms, which the representative of upper Manhattan in the City Council assures has touched everyone.

“We have to raise our voices and say: ‘enough is enough’. I was motivated because I am a mother, I am a daughter, I am a wife, I am a friend,” said Zoila Marte, an assistant to the march.

“The word backed by our actions speaks much louder than the word without action,” said Dennis Vargas, pastor of “Mission Reconciliation.”

And New Yorkers want immediate political action at the state and federal levels to address the gun violence epidemic, like the legislative package being considered by the Senate.

“I don’t think that bill goes far enough, but it is a first step towards solving this problem and the Senate naturally has to find consensus,” Espaillat said. “Three Republicans and three Democrats are working to see if they can pass this project. I believe that given what has happened there is no other alternative, action has to be taken.”

The congressman put a message on social networks about the march.

“As we commemorate Gun Violence Awareness Day, we remember those we have lost to the epidemic of gun violence in the United States and say enough!” Espaillat said.

“It’s time to take action to #EndGunViolence (end Gun Violence),” the message continues.

As we mark Gun Violence Awareness Day, we remember those we have lost to the epidemic of gun violence in America and say enough is enough!

It’s time to take action to #EndGunViolence. pic.twitter.com/v1pav1pN4r

– Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) June 3, 2022

Even with local legislation among the strictest in the country for the purchase of weapons, Councilman Abreu – who is also chairman of the State and Federal Legislation Committee of the Council – hopes to advance against the so-called “ghost weapons” and invest more in prevention and intervention of violence as soon as next month.

“We are going to do a report that will determine the path by which firearms arrive in our community, including the type of guns, including ghost guns, but also to focus on prevention. Investing in our youth is the until there are changes in control on a daily basis throughout the country as a result of armed violence,” said the councilman.

Abreu also put a message on social networks about the march.

“Today we gather our community to march against gun violence. We must stop the flow of iron that is destroying our neighborhoods,” said the councilman.

“But we cannot stop armed violence alone. Thanks to @RepEspaillat, @BroSis512 and our community partners for joining us in this fight,” the message added.

We brought our community together today to march against gun violence. We must put an end to the iron pipeline tearing our neighborhoods apart.

But, we cannot stop gun violence alone. Thanks to @RepEspaillat, @BroSis512and our community partners for joining us in this fight. pic.twitter.com/Am4cOyDedE

— Shaun Abreu (@ShaunAbreu) June 3, 2022

Until changes in gun control take place nationwide, more than 100 people will continue to lose their lives every day across the country as a result of gun violence.

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