Progressive Democrats Express Sadness Over Texas Shooting, Demand Solutions

WASHINGTON - Nov. 6, 2017 - PRLog -- Who: Progressive Democrats of America Staff and Supporters

What: Expresses sadness and demands action to address gun violence

Where: Nationwide, where all Americans are potential victims of gun violence

Why: To demand that our officials address the epidemic of mass shootings

When: Continuing for the foreseeable future until we implement policy solutions

How: Via public outreach, political pressure, organizing, and via the media

Washington, D.C.—Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) expressed profound sadness for the latest victims of a mass shooting, and called for action to address gun violence head on as a public health concern.

Donna Smith, PDA Executive Director, said, "Progressive Democrats of America is heartbroken today. Our thoughts are with the people of Sutherland, TX, where yet another mass shooting has claimed the lives of at least 26 people yesterday, and many more people were injured. This is a news story too often repeated in cities and towns all across America. Our hearts break and our sense of outrage grows with every report."

Smith added, "Each life lost is so tragic and so precious to us all. They are us. We are they. At a church, at a concert, in an elementary school, at the store, in a restaurant—they died as we might have died. We all died a little as we learned their numbers first, then their names, and finally their stories. Their stories are our stories."

Smith continued, "There can be no justification for this escalating epidemic of gun violence in this nation. Also, there can be no justification for ignoring our responsibilities to one another—and to future generations—to do our best to prevent future mass shooting incidents."

Smith explained, "Difficult as it will be, we must confront the issue of gun violence head on as a public health concern. We need bold and effective public policy solutions. Great minds and willing hearts must come together with the best information and data available and guide our lawmakers, public servants and health professionals to offer policies and programs to address the causes, and also helping to support victims and families of these horrific events."

Smith concluded, "May we embrace one another with a real commitment to safe, healthy and peaceful communities both here and around the world. We believe those elected to serve us all have a duty to do all that is in their power to help us achieve that mission. We hope you will support PDA in this struggle. In order to form a more peaceful union."

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots political action committee. The organization was founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and U.S. politics by working inside the Democratic Party and outside with peace, justice, civil rights, environmental, and other reform movements. PDA's Healthcare Not Warfare campaign brings together the need for a comprehensive universal healthcare system with our advocacy for scaled-down military spending and reliance on non-military approaches to foreign policy, rather than regime change and military action.

The PDA National Advisory Board includes: Representatives John Conyers, Jr., Barbara Lee, Keith Ellison, Raul Grijalva, and James McGovern; as well as progressive leaders including Academy Award winning documentarian Michael Moore, Actress / Activist Mimi Kennedy, Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler, Author Jim Hightower, and Radio Hosts / Authors Lila Garrett and Thom Hartmann. Esteemed activists Michael Lighty, Medea Benjamin, Steve Cobble, Kristin Cabral, Marjorie Cohn, and Dr. Paul Song, M.D. also serve on the PDA Advisory Board.

For more information please see http://www.pdamerica.org and contact:

Executive Director Donna Smith donna@pdamerica.org 720-256-8373

Deputy Director Michael Fox mikefox@pdamerica.org 727-320-4502

Communications Director Mike Hersh mike@pdamerica.org 301-602-9388