Skip to main content
Media advisory

2025 Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders Against Gun Violence Convening Set for Chicago July 1 and 2

June 27, 2025
Gun Control

Po Murray, pmurray@newtownaction.org, 203-512-1778

AAPI, Other Minority Leaders to Tackle Epidemic of Gun Violence

 

The second Trump administration has brought an alarming resurgence of divisive rhetoric and even more policies that intentionally target Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI), immigrants, and other minority communities. Heightened political hostility is fueling hate, increasing the risk of hate-motivated gun violence, and driving fear-based firearm purchases—all of which can lead to more gun suicides and accidental shootings. This has made the United States the least-free advanced democracy in the world, and the burdens associated with the accompanying loss of civil liberties are falling disproportionately on minority communities. 

To address those and other challenges, the 2025 AAPI Against Gun Violence Convening will welcome more than 100 gun violence prevention and civil rights leaders, advocates and funders from around the country on July 1 and 2. It will be held:

 

Tuesday, July 1 and Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Kasbeer Hall, 25 E. Pearson Street, Loyola University, Chicago

WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Julie Morita, President & CEO and Board Member, The Joyce Foundation

Anat Shenker-Osorio, Principal and Founder of ASO Communications

U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-2)

Quiwana Bell, Assistant Secretary, Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, Illinois Department of Services

 

The gathering will provide AAPI, Latino, Black, and other civil rights and gun violence prevention leaders, survivors, advocates, experts and funders with the opportunity to network and collaborate on coordinated, community-informed responses that meet the current political moment, prevent violence, address the root causes of rising gun ownership, and build safer, more resilient communities. It is open to credentialed media.

Find the  full schedule of events HERE.

# # # #

MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.