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By Meghan K. Donovan
In 2021, there were 44,851 gun violence deaths in America. The shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo are just the most recent manifestations of the epidemic of violence in this country. Activists are more motivated than ever in demanding an end to the horror. Trevon Bosley, a March for Our Lives organizer from Chicago, said, “It’s important to show that lives are still being taken due to gun violence.”
March for Our Lives started in 2018 as a response to the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The first march was the largest single day of protest against gun violence in history. This year, more than 300 marches are planned across the country throughout June.
For Bosley, gun violence is a personal issue. In December 2005, he lost a cousin to gun violence and less than a year later his brother was shot and killed. While still in elementary school, Bosley joined Brave Youth Leaders in Chicago. In 2018, some members flew to Parkland and spoke to the survivors of the shooting. Bosley is now a board member for March for Our Lives.
Brave Youth Leaders has also been affected by gun violence. Two members have been shot since last year. Bosley stays motivated to continue by thinking about his cousin and brother. “Changing lives is something I have to do,” he said. When he feels discouraged, he talks to his mentor, Father Michael Flander, an activist in Chicago for more than 60 years. He also disconnects from social media when necessary.
To get involved with a local March for Our Lives, text MARCH to 954954. Bosley emphasized that there are many ways to get involved. “You don’t have to be in front of a crowd to do good in your community, he said.”