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New York (December 15, 2010)–On Saturday, December 18^th, National Action Network (NAN) will convene an emergency anti-violence summit at NAN’s national headquarters, the House of Justice, coinciding with two “cash for guns” events at Harlem churches in partnership with the New York City Police Department. As the crisis of gun violence in New York and across the country reaches epic proportions, and in the wake of statistics that were released by the Department that revealed that two-thirds of the murder victims in New York City are Black, NAN has mobilized leaders in the anti-violence effort to unite to create a special taskforce to deal with this problem. The taskforce seeks to create a unified body comprised of local groups, concerned citizens, clergy, law enforcement and elected officials.  National Action Network believes the response to the violence must come from within.

NAN’s Summit comes on the heels of a November press conference where Rev. Sharpton and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly partnered to announce that they would hold an NYPD Cash for Guns event where people can turn in working handguns for $200 – no questions asked.

“We need to get beyond our differences in politics to preserve our lives,” said Sharpton as he stood next to Kelly at One Police Plaza. Kelly noted gun violence has been a scourge of the black community last year. He said 73% of all shooting victims were black, as were 80% of suspected shooters. The number of people shot citywide has gone up nearly 4% this year

NAN hopes the Summitt will provide an outlet for activists, victims, offenders and concerned citizens to share their experiences, offer expertise and come together to discuss ideas that will improve the community. The summit will also be an opportunity to hear from key stakeholders such as the Commissioner of the New York Police Department, Ray Kelly, Rev. Al Sharpton, Manhattan DA Cy Vance, Judge Tanya Kennedy, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Reverend Michael Waldron, shooting victim Makeda Barnes Joseph, and more. The event will be co-hosted by NAN’s national Executive Director Tamika D. Mallory and Brian Benjamin. Co-Director of NAN’s Anti-violence Initiative.

On Saturday, Dec. 18 the National Action Network and the NYPD, in partnership with local clergy in Harlem, hold a “Cash for Guns” event at two churches, in the 28^th and 32^nd Precincts.

Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. anyone can turn in an operable handgun and receive a $200 bank card in exchange, no questions asked, up to $600. Working rifles and shotguns will be exchanged for $20.

The event is the tenth collaboration between the Department and religious leaders in all five boroughs. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced an agreement Nov. 19 under which the National Action Network would support efforts to get illegal guns off of the streets, via a gun buy-back in Harlem and by promoting the NYPD Operation Gun Stop program.

Nearly 6,200 guns have been removed from the streets as a result of this program, the most recent of which was Dec. 11 in Brooklyn.

Details for Saturday’s event:

The program has netted 6,185 firearms, as of Dec. 11, 2010:

Previous gun buy-backs held in partnership with clergy:

2008

July 19 – Brooklyn North: 73, 75, 79, 88

Sept. 13 – Brooklyn South: 60, 67, 69, 70, 71, 78

Oct. 11 – Brooklyn North: 83, 90

Oct. 25 – Manhattan North: 25, 28, 30, 32

Dec. 13 – Staten Island 120

2009

Feb. 21 – Queens South: 100, 101, 103, 105, 113

Apr. 25 – Bronx: 40, 42, 43, 44, 47

2010

Jan. 23 – Bronx: 40, 42, 47

May 8 – Brooklyn North: 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, 83

Dec. 11 – Brooklyn North: 73, 75