Gun violence is a pressing issue that affects communities across the nation. In King County, government stakeholders and community organizations are joining forces to address this epidemic through collaborative initiatives. King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and community leaders like Shantel Patu, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Urban Family, recently announced the launch of two interconnected campaigns: the 100 Days of Action against Gun Violence and the 100 Days of Peace initiative.

The 100 Days of Action focuses on policy changes and funding opportunities aimed at disrupting gun violence. Meanwhile, the 100 Days of Peace, led by organizations like Urban Family and Community Passageways, concentrates on community-level engagement through events, activities, and youth support.

A demonstration of community activism took place recently with the Traffic Jam for Peace, orchestrated by Urban Family. This event intentionally slowed traffic on Interstate 5 North to draw attention to the urgency of addressing gun violence. The traffic jam served as a metaphor, highlighting how violence affects everyone in the community, regardless of direct involvement.

Deaunte Damper, guest host of Back2Besa and host of We Live In Color, was a speaker at the Traffic Jam for Peace event. During the event he emphasized the urgency of addressing gun violence, highlighting the tragic loss of young lives in the community. Damper sees the Traffic Jam for Peace as an opportunity for the community to unite and stand together against violence. He believes it's crucial to support and protect young people, and he's grateful to the Patu family and Urban Family for their leadership in organizing the event.

The 100 Days of Action initiative, supported by a $1.6 million investment from King County, includes funding for community-based violence intervention programs and support for victims of gun violence. This initiative draws inspiration from successful strategies implemented in other cities grappling with similar challenges.

Leaders emphasize the importance of addressing root causes of violence, such as poverty, mental health, lack of education, and inadequate housing. By tackling these underlying issues, the hope is to create lasting change that extends far beyond the initial 100 days.

Both the 100 Days of Action and 100 Days of Peace campaigns represent a united effort to combat gun violence and foster safer communities. Through collaborative action and community engagement, there is hope for a future where violence is reduced, and healing can begin.

This segment was first aired on Back2Besa on FOX 13 Seattle. See past episodes and segments at whereweconverge.com/back2besa and on the FOX Local app. Learn how to download app here bit.ly/watchfoxlocal