23 Apr US Virgin Islands Leaders to Headline #DEARUSVI Town Hall in Light of Gun Violence
Award-winning filmmaker, author and journalist Peter Bailey will host #DearUSVI, an unprecedented virtual town hall conversation series with civic leaders, newsmakers and entertainers focused on addressing the continued violence threatening to destroy the fabric of the embattled US territory. The town hall is being organized in partnership with US Virgin Islands Senator Myron D. Jackson and Brooklyn-based Pastor Gil Monrose a board member of the University of the Virgin Islands Center for the Spirituality & Professionalism. USVI Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor, USVI Musical Ambassador and Multifaceted Entertainer Benny Demus and USVI Bureau of Corrections Territorial Health Administrator Dr. Celia Victor will make up the other panelists alongside special guests from the community.
Senator Jackson will discuss his proposed legislation, Bill No. 33-0126, to establish an Office of Gun Violence Prevention during the townhall. The goal is to create an office that brings together governmental and non-profit agencies with wrap-around service providers to address the issue through a comprehensive approach that highlights the importance of providing recreational, vocational and economic opportunities for youth.
“As a community it is crucial that we stand together against gun violence. Our police department cannot do it alone. We look forward to engaging with our community at the upcoming townhall,” Senator Jackson said. “No one should have to suffer loss in these tragic ways.”
As the embattled US territory struggles to recover in the wake of the devastating 2017 hurricane season and current COVID-19 pandemic there’s been a recent surge in gun violence where five people have been murdered during one week in April for a total of 15 homicides throughout the US territory thus far in 2020.
“We’ve long faced another pandemic in our community before COVID-19 which has been self-inflicted genocide due to gun violence,” says Bailey, who’s recently toured North America with his award-winning film Paradise Discovered: The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders. “I’m honored to join a cross section of influential Virgin Islanders to start a territory-wide dialogue to finally address this pandemic as a community.”
The #DearUSVI town hall will stream live on the NiteCap Media Facebook page www.facebook.com/NiteCapMedia at 3 PM Est. this Friday, April 24th.
For more info visit www.nitecapmedia.com.
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