Washington, D.C. (May 25, 2022) — Yesterday, after an active shooter entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas killing at least 21 people, including 19 children, President and CEO Marc Morial calls for Congress to pass strict gun reform legislation.

“One week after a racially motivated shooter used an assault rifle to target a Black community in Buffalo, New York, another mass shooter used an assault rifle and high-capacity magazines to attack Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The families and communities were changed forever because of these evil acts.

TALLAHASSEE – The Tallahassee Urban League (Tallahassee, FL) is trying to keep high school students away from violence this coming summer.

Partnering with Publix Supermarkets, the Urban League is giving teenagers jobs in Leon County. According to the Urban League, these jobs will hopefully help reduce violence in the surrounding communities.

The President of the Urban League, Curtis Taylor, has commented that giving teenagers can help in reducing crime and violence. He said, “If we have jobs, and I’ve said this over and over, jobs, jobs, jobs, help to combat crime in our community. If someone has a job, they don’t have time to be on the street corner doing something they shouldn’t be doing.”

CHATTANOOGA – The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Education and Hamilton County Schools in a new literacy program.

The program, called Connected Literacy, is a 12-week tutoring program will be open to any first, second, or third grade student within Hamilton County Schools that is reading below their grade level. It will also be open to any student that needs assistance maintaining their reading level. The tutors will all have completed the Tennessee Department of Education’s Early Reading Training.

CLEVELAND – In an effort to better help minority-owned construction companies in Cleveland, the Sherwin-Williams Foundation and the Urban League of Greater Cleveland (Cleveland, OH) have partnered to begin a new Construction Accelerator Program (CAP).

The pilot program will have minority-owned businesses access to business resources currently unavailable to them. Resources such mentorship, access to capital, education on processes and construction management tools. Businesses would also be able to qualify for business loans through UBIZ Venture Capital, which operates via the Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Center.

Both sides are excited about the partnership.

BUFFALO – In the wake of the mass killing in Buffalo on May 14th, the Buffalo Urban League (Buffalo, NY) has begun to host mental health sessions to assist the community.

The Urban League partnered with the Erie County Department of Mental Health to hold these sessions, which are free of charge to the public. A free clinic was held this past Sunday, May 22nd at Johnnie B. Wiley, which is located around four blocks from where the tragedy occurred.

The horrific racially motivated mass killing took place at the Jefferson Avenue Tops supermarket. Ten people died, with three wounded.

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(WASHINGTON) -  Today, civil rights leaders met with Attorney General Merrick Garland to discuss the May 14 mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, and the Department of Justice’s role in addressing the spread of white supremacy across social media platforms and hate crimes tearing through Black communities across America.