I Am Disappointed

I am disappointed. There are no other words to describe my feelings about the passage of Ohio’s Senate Bill 175, otherwise known as “Stand Your Ground.” For those who may not know, this bill passed the Ohio General Assembly and was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine earlier this month. Let me explain my disappointment in a way that’s true to my beliefs and the work of Whitney/Strong - with real data and research.

Stand Your Ground will not make our community safer and I shared the following research with Governor DeWine’s team. 

With little federal funding, clear, data-driven solutions for reducing gun violence are few and far between. This is why RAND’s 2020 Gun Policy of America Initiative is so important. In 2020 RAND reviewed studies by dozens of researchers investigating the impact of U.S. firearm policies. The initiative aimed to develop a “shared set of facts that have been established through a transparent, nonpartisan and impartial review process.”

In their review, RAND found that “Stand Your Ground” policies had the highest level of correlation - “supportive evidence” - to increases in gun violence.  In their words, this law “actually makes people less safe, and instead more likely to the be victim of a firearm homicide.”

This finding is a big deal and should not be ignored. While I can see how people believe that a gun can save you in a moment of violence outside of your home, the data do not support this theory. I am both a gun owner and a believer in data. 

Additionally, Stand Your Ground continues to draw criticism from black and brown communities, citing implicit and explicit bias, and the role it plays when someone must determine whether defense with deadly force is warranted. One Texas A&M study found that when whites use the stand-your-ground defense against black attackers they are more successful than when blacks use the defense against white attackers.

Ohio lawmakers and Governor DeWine ignored both rigorously reviewed evidence from RAND and the pleas from so many in communities of color to veto this bill.

I am disappointed.

Sometimes this fight feels impossible. I stood alongside Governor DeWine when he introduced his STRONG Ohio proposal and participated in proponent hearings. Sadly, the bill never made it to a committee vote. It is unbelievably disheartening to see “Stand Your Ground” legislation so easily check off each of the critical boxes necessary for passage, and done so in a condensed timeline, in a lame-duck session, during a global pandemic. It feels like an alternate universe.

I will not be deterred. The Whitney/Strong team will not be deterred. Our focus on responsible gun ownership offers us a large net to cast with many policy opportunities for saving lives. We will keep knocking on the doors of those in a position of power to make good policy. My experience on 9/6/18 drives me to take every meeting, explore every effective policy, and get back up after every punch.

Governor DeWine states that he is not giving up on his larger package meant to reduce gun violence in Ohio. He continues to reiterate his support for improving the national background check system and tougher sentences for violent criminals who illegally possess guns. 

I look forward to my next meeting with him to see what effective policy we try next. Change will come to those who persevere.

Whitney

Honoring a Father with Service

Dayton Oregon District Shooting Survivor Tells His Story

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Dion Green is the founder of FUDGE, a non-profit group that provides support to victims and survivors of gun violence. Dion is a survivor of the August 4, 2019 mass shooting in the Oregon District in Dayton, Ohio. His father was killed in that shooting.

He joined Whitney to co-host A Night For Life: Reflections on Survival in September. For this blog post, we asked Dion to share more about himself, his father, and the mission of FUDGE.

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Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Dion Green. I am from Springfield Ohio but have been living in Dayton for a while. I have one sister named Megan. I am a graduate student at Keller Graduate finishing up my MBA. I used to work at St. Vincent DePaul, but I decided to start a non-profit with the acronym of FUDGE - my father’s last name, but also standing for “Flourishing Under Distress Given Encouragement”.

My non-profit focuses on survivors and victims of gun violence, like myself, and helps them get through their situation to regain their lives. As survivors and victims know too well, depression can claim your personality if you don’t seek guidance in the right direction to help you overcome the tragedy.

I also just became an author; my new book is called Untitled: An Act of God/Act of Man. I wrote this memoir to give others the encouragement and strength they need to overcome life-changing events. In the book, I attempt to explain the pain I have suffered. But I want this book to be something that when you’re feeling down and out, you can pick it up, read about the things I faced and how I am trying to shed light on a dark situation, and realize that your life could be worse than what it is.

I like to fish and canoe. My father was an avid fisherman; that is how we really did our bonding and would catch up on what was going on with each other. I also like giving back and helping out others in the community or anywhere across the country.

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Tell us a little about your father. What was he like?

My father, Derrick Fudge, was a stern man when I was growing up, but as I got older he became a friend. Like all fathers and sons, we argued over things. Now, I wish I had the chance to argue with him about something.

My dad was a kind-hearted person. He would do anything to help someone, even if he did not know you. He was a faithful bell ringer for the Salvation Army, and everyone loved him. That’s why last year I stood in place for him, ringing the bell and fulfilling his duty since he was not here.

My dad was a big kid. All the grandchildren loved him because he was a kid himself around them. He loved the Pittsburgh Steelers football team and loved to fish. He lived a simple life, but it was enough for him.

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What happened that night in Dayton?

August 4, 2019 started out as a great day because I went canoeing. I had not been out of the house since May, because my home was hit by the tornadoes that ravaged the city of Dayton. I decided to go canoeing on the Mad River in Springfield just to feel alive again, and I had a great time.

After leaving the river, I went to my mother’s house in Springfield to hang out with my family, because I hadn’t seen them since before the tornadoes. I offered for my friends and family to come back to Dayton to go out that evening. Everyone came to my house before we headed to the Oregon District.

As we made our way to the Oregon District, my dad fell asleep. I told him to stay in the car, that we would only be there for a short period of time. But he said he was coming too.

We went into Newcom’s, and as soon as we get inside my dad is up there dancing and having a blast. At one point, a security guard came up to us saying that we had to leave because my dad was dancing inappropriately. I have the video, and he was definitely “social-distance” dancing. Since I was tired anyway, we decided to leave. Once outside, we stood by the taco stand waiting on my sister and her boyfriend to come out.

Right in that moment, my night went from having a blast to the worst night of my life. While standing there waiting for my sister, a tall slender white man came walking down the side of the building wearing a mask and a body armor suit. As he entered the sidewalk, he let off a couple of rounds. I just knew this was not real, because the Oregon District is heavily guarded with police officers. I thought maybe he was just acting stupid.

It was no joke. After he came out shooting, he walked in between the cars. Me, my dad, and my girlfriend were still standing. Nobody was hurt. Then, as he crossed the street, the gun shots were non-stop and people began to panic and take cover. I still thought, this is not real. He walked right by me, and no one was hurt.

While people were running and screaming, I’m telling my dad to get up so we could get out of there. Reality kicked in when the person in front of me asked me to call the police because they had been shot. I tried calling, but all lines were busy. I went back to my dad saying, “Get up man. We are out of here.” But he just kept lying there with his eyes open, breathing like a fish out of water.

When I looked at him the first time, I didn’t see any blood. I turned on the flashlight on my phone, and everything looked fine until I got up to his head and shoulders, and I saw that he was lying in a puddleof blood. That’s when I lost all feeling and broke down. I started performing CPR and saying, “Get up dad”, but I could tell he was slowly leaving me. So, I just hugged him and kept saying, “I love you, dad. Please get up. I love you. Please get up.”

But he didn’t get up. And I just lost control of my life and everything around me in that moment.

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How have you responded to grief?

I am still dealing with it. I seek help professionally and I talk to others close to me. Talking about it is a form of therapy for me. Sometimes I can speak about it, and some days I can’t.

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What do you want the average American to understand about your story? 

First, that mental health is a major issue. If conditions are left untreated, and a person is not seeking help, it can lead to something devastating, and you can be left facing the challenges I am going through.

Also, that life is not promised, so please make right with your loved ones and friends because not one minute is guaranteed.

Mental health issues and guns are not a good combination; it’s a recipe for disaster.

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What do you want elected officials to understand about your story?

I’m not a politician, but I want better guidelines on where guns like these are being sold and who they’re being sold to, so we can prevent these events from happening to others around the country.

Presidential Award for Officer Al Staples

Thank you to the FOP for giving me the opportunity tonight to publicly sing the praises of one of my heroes – Cincinnati Police Officer – Alphonso Staples.

Good evening everyone, my name is Whitney Austin and I am one of the survivors from the September 6th 2018 mass shooting on Fountain Square. If you have heard my story, yes, I am the woman who survived twelve bullets. I think it’s likely, hope it’s likely that you have, considering I left my profession as a product manager at Fifth Third Bank to pursue the job I’ve been called to do – advocate and fight for solutions that can make all of us safer. This gig, the Executive Director of Whitney/Strong, provides ample opportunities to tell my story but most of the time it’s a sound byte here or a sentence there – never enough time to give Officer Staples, Al to me, the adulation he deserves. 

Luckily for me, you guys decided to give him this award – The Lifetime Presidential Achievement Award. Now I’ve been given the perfect opportunity to share with all of you why Al fits the definition of hero so well, not just because of his actions on September 6th but because of how he interacts with the world each and every day. He is also averse to public praise, so I apologize Al, this won’t be easy for you. I’d talk about Toyeas, Chilton, Etter, and Kaminsky but they aren’t getting an award tonight.

So, let’s talk about what being a hero means. The Webster Dictionary tells us that a hero is as follows:

1. A mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability. 
   
   I’m not going to give Al the mythological title, but he is certainly a legendary figure within this city. Have you seen the Singing Mural on Central Pkwy? It’s Al and all of his legendary buddies – Elton John, Mr. Rogers, etc. This community saw the value in Al far before I came into the picture.
   
   Endowed with great strength or ability. Absolutely, that’s Al. From the moment I was shot the first time to the moment the Cincinnati Police Department arrived on Fountain Square, one minute elapsed. That timeframe still feels impossible to me considering the many, many thoughts I had in such a short span of time. I’ll spare you the details but after frenetically running through all options for survival and coming up empty-handed, I resigned myself to death. 
   
   I imagine that some of you in this room have faced that moment. If yes, maybe you can relate to the emotional pain that hits as you begin to process what you’re leaving behind. In my case, a husband and two small children. The emotional pain was unbearable. Unbelievably, I didn’t have to sit with it for more than just a few seconds. One minute was up and Al caught my eye. 
   
   This is where his great strength and ability came in. The moment our eyes locked my adrenaline pumping resumed and my brain communicated clear directions: “You are living not dying.” I still remember the fear in his eyes but even more prominent, the love and compassion he directed toward me without even saying a word. 
   
   I was behaving stupidly, refusing to play dead, hollering at him to save me because I had children at home who needed their mother. I don’t remember exactly what he said in those moments, but his eyes conveyed everything I needed to survive. I wish you could have all been privy to that moment of heroism. I wish you could bottle it up and implant it into the brains of every officer across this country. His strength and ability are a shining example of what all officers should aspire to each day.
   

2. An illustrious warrior. This one is too much. If you want to be an illustrious warrior, Al, I’ll support you. I just do not have any evidence to share with the audience.
   

3. A person admired for achievements and noble qualities. It took some time to sort out who Al was and then connect with him in-person. In fact, our first meeting was a month after the shooting when I needed to return to the hospital for a second surgery on my right arm. I had learned that Al sang in a gospel quintet and that the whole group wanted to come up to the hospital room and serenade me. Imagine that happening today!
   
   They sang beautifully but more importantly, it was this magical moment where we were together again, face to face, but under entirely different circumstances. Still, it was enough time to log away more behaviors, more characteristics that were helping me assemble a full picture of the man, Alphonso Staples. From that interaction I gathered humility, dedication to faith, deep and loyal friendships, light-heartedness, and extreme warmth. I barely knew this man but that was not apparent in the moment. It felt like we had known each other for years.
   
   Over the coming weeks and months, this picture of Al continued to build. Stories regarding his time spent in OTR and the many people he connected to and made feel safe. The banker at the branch downtown who needed a familiar face after the shooting and Al was there to comfort her. You know someone is a hometown hero when you begin to build up your network of volunteers and supporters for gun violence prevention and people start giving you stories of Al’s random acts of kindness for the Cincinnati Children’s Theatre and more. Or the authentic and loving relationship he has with the other officers that saved my life. It didn’t take long for me to realize my hero didn’t just become an exceptional human being in that moment, he has been an exceptional human being for a very long time. How lucky am I to be tied to him for life?
   

4. One who shows great courage. I will never stop saying this. It is not normal to run into danger. I am constantly complimented for my bravery, for my ability to stay calm under pressure and survive something so horrific. My response is always the same – praise the police officers. I unknowingly found myself in that situation. They knowingly entered. Al chose to crouch down just mere feet away from me. This is bravery!
   
   There is a lot of scrutiny placed on police officers in this moment in history. My organization is focused on reducing gun violence of all kinds, placing me in a position to feel quite intimately the pain that comes with the kinds of gun violence that disproportionately impacts communities of color. I believe that there is real work that needs to be done to address systemic racism and inequity and we all have much room for improvement. I am sorry that this movement has, at times, broadly painted law enforcement in such a negative light. I cannot tell you explicitly what steps should be taken to reverse that criticism but I can remind you that officers like Al and the others that saved me on that day, are the kind of officers that the country is clamoring for. Al Staples is your North Star. 
   

5. The central figure in an event, period, or movement. 100% – he is the central figure of September 6th and not just for me. He has since become a beloved member of my family – just ask him how often my Dad calls to tell him he loves him. Or about the cat we adopted and named Alphonso. Or how my children pretend to be lions on the phone every time they talk – it is an inside joke that developed due to Al’s disdain in having a cat named after him. Or how he and my husband can now joke about how I demanded he give me his phone so that I could tell Waller the unfiltered version of what had happened as we sat waiting for the ambulance. Even other survivors from September 6th have been drawn to him for support and friendship. His role on that day has been memorialized for decades to come, something that he greatly deserves. 

And while he was the central figure on September 6th, he is now a central figure in my life and for that I am so grateful. You will never know all the wonderful things about him because that his nature. He is a true hero who walks the walk of servanthood daily. Congratulations Al. You deserve this and so much more.

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Stop the Violence, Put the Beef on the Grill

The thoughts of Raven Sanders, interviewed by W/S Board Member Terrell Williams

For three years straight, it seemed like my family and friends were dropping like bowling pins and the bowling ball always seemed to be a gun. Why were so many people I knew dying from gun violence? Since a young age, gun violence has constantly followed me around like a shadow. It feels unescapable. It’s been said that the more something happens to you, the more you get used to it. However, that isn’t true when we’re talking about the pain you feel from losing someone to gun violence.  No mother or father should have to bury their child due to gun violence. The way I see it, too often, parents are watering graveyards with their tears while their children’s bodies act as fertilizer.

In 2014, the pot boiled over. Bullets claimed another friend’s life, Quinton “Joc” Logan. I couldn’t take it anymore.  Standing by and doing nothing was no longer an option.  Being an in-the-moment activist wasn’t an option either. There had to be something long-term. That’s when Stop the Violence, Put the Beef on the Grill was born.

Stop the Violence, Put the Beef on the Grill is an annual event for the community that focuses on preventing all types of violence while providing free food, games, prizes, and live performances. This event promotes peace, love, and unity. Look at it as a time of encouragement and a celebration. Encouraging our community to stand up against violence and celebrating the lives lost to violence as well as the ones who are currently fighting to prevent violence. I intend to host Stop the Violence, Put the Beef on the Grill for many years to come, God willing.

Everyone is encouraged to join us for an eventful day. 

Details for 2020 Stop the Violence, Put the Beef on the Grill

• Date: Sunday, July 19, 2020

• Location: Shawnee Park 4501 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40211

• Time: 12-7 PM

• Free Food, Games, Prizes, & Live Performances

• Masks are Highly Encouraged

For more information about becoming a donor, vendor, or sponsor, email Raven at ravensanders76@gmail.com. 

Proudly Supporting a Local "Life Builder"

Recently, our Whitney/Strong board members have been thinking about and discussing ways that we can positively contribute to the Black Lives Matter movement.  Last week, we watched a webinar for non-profit organizations, and one of their suggestions was to evaluate who we support and work with.  Immediately, I proudly thought of Pivot to Peace.

Pivot to Peace is a hospital-based initiative that intervenes when a person has been shot or stabbed and helps that survivor successfully reintegrate back into their community. Without programs like Pivot to Peace, the re-injury rate for victims who return to the same environment where they were injured is significant. That’s why programs like Pivot are life savers. For me, Pivot to Peace wasn’t only a life saver, but a life builder as well. When I first became aware of Pivot, I had just been told by doctors that due to my injuries, it was likely I would never be able to walk again. I was no longer capable of performing my job duties; therefore, I was forced to search for new income. Mentally, I was discombobulated. The life I knew had vanished.

When life turns upside down, finding a starting point can feel like an insurmountable task. However, Ms. Deborah, KJ Fields, and Derrick Mitchell – Pivot to Peace staff – helped me develop and carry out a plan that has catapulted my life in a direction I never saw coming. But the thing I cherish most is the support and love I have received from them. I will never forget when they came and prayed with my family when we were all in a room together for the first time. I will never forget Derrick stopping by the hospital for my therapy appointments or coming by to play 2K with me to keep my mind off things or how he helped me enroll into college. I will never forget how KJ made me feel like family from the first day we met or how he has connected me to a multitude of people and opportunities or how he helped me find a paying job. I will never forget how Ms. Deborah dug into her OWN pockets to help me pay for the medicine I needed or how she takes it upon herself to get involved with what Whitney Strong supports, like CALM training, or how she constantly pushes me to become a better version of myself.

Pivot to Peace is a vital component to our Louisville community, especially our Black population. In fact, Pivot’s most recently published report showed that 92% of the Pivot to Peace participants were Black. Despite this heart-wrenching reality, Pivot to Peace has a 96% success rate. Rarely do participants get reinjured after they have decided to join the Pivot family. However, even with all of this success, far too often Pivot to Peace and other similar initiatives aren’t given the attention and resources they deserve. I know firsthand the potential that Pivot to Peace has. People may not realize it, but when they look at me, they see a piece of Pivot. Pivot is fighting every day to support the many Black lives in our own backyard. Today, I’m delighted and proud to share that the Whitney/Strong Board has decided to make a monetary donation to this strong pillar in the city of Louisville. - Terrell Williams (Whitney/Strong Board Member and gun violence survivor)

Our Commitment to Equity

We have shared many of these thoughts with you in previous email and blog posts. I felt it was important to repeat those messages here while sharing our ongoing commitment to equality and equity.

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On the day we organized, Whitney/Strong made a commitment to fight all forms of gun violence. While much public attention is directed at mass shootings, we hold gun violence of any kind within our purview - including gun violence at the hands of police.

At first, the thought of speaking out against police gun violence was difficult for me, someone who’s alive due to the heroic efforts of the Cincinnati Police Department. However, the task is made less challenging as I witness the courage and bravery of so many – police and civilians alike – who demand that we meet this national moment. 

To do this, we must begin by confronting the binary narrative playing out in front of us. This narrative tries to force us into either demanding justice for Black lives OR supporting law enforcement – not both. To be clear, you can both respect members of law enforcement and believe that policies must be examined to eliminate racial disparities. 

We will always speak up when something is wrong, even when it is challenging to do so. This is one of those times. Whitney/Strong stands firmly against racism, discrimination, inequality, and inequity. These beliefs are intertwined in our mission.

At this critical juncture, we want to share our action plan to fight racial injustice.

• We have and will continue to share stories of the impact of gun violence in communities of color. It is our hope that doing so will humanize the victims and invoke empathy and discomfort so strong that it’s impossible to ignore the depth and breadth of the pain Black people experience due to gun violence.

• We know that stories are not enough. To honor these victims, we will continue to find ways to bring our Save a Life Series to neighborhoods most at-risk for gun violence, including communities of color. This program brings together evidence-based measures like Stop the Bleed and safe storage training. These events give us an opportunity to listen, learn, and connect with local leaders and members of the community.  

• We are steadfast in championing responsible gun ownership solutions such as bi-partisan-supported legislation to de-escalate moments of crisis and suicide prevention programs designed to reduce access to lethal means. We will continue and expand our current efforts to distribute gun locks throughout our communities.

• We will use our relationships with law enforcement to find areas for improvement and will think critically about where we fit in. Work must be done to eradicate racism in all its forms, policing included, and we pledge to be a part of the solution.

Like all of our work, this action plan will continue to grow and evolve. We acknowledge that we don't have all the answers right now.  Whitney/Strong is committed to listening, learning, engaging in conversation, and finding meaningful ways to stand up for racial justice and lasting equity.

Let me end where I began. As an organization, we are incredibly grateful to our law enforcement partners for their role in implementing our strategic priorities, including Stop the Bleed training and gun lock distribution. Unquestionably, I am alive and able to do this work today because of the heroic police officers who responded with selfless disregard for the danger they faced. I am still in awe of their bravery and humanity in that moment. Let us hold that moment as our North Star and insist that those same values are universally applied - especially to our Black brothers and sisters.  

I encourage each of you to think about your own plans of action and the steps you can take to fight for equity. We welcome your partnership and participation in our journey to create meaningful change. - Whitney

We can do better together.

Save A Life Series - Terrell Williams

For far too long, my community has been plagued with gun violence, and many people including myself, have lost loved ones due to this public health issue. While it may take the city a while to alleviate this problem, something that can be done to help immediately to save lives from gun violence is the Whitney/Strong Save a Life Series.

The two major components of the Save a Life Series are Stop the Bleed training and Firearm Safety training. Stop the Bleed training is a skillset that I believe all residents of West and South Louisville need. Often, a gunshot wound becomes fatal because of exsanguination—death from too much blood loss. Regardless of how fast or slow emergency responders arrive at an emergency, bystanders will always be the first people on the scene. I think back to when I was laying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, bleeding out, and being surrounded by 10+ people. Even though I was surrounded by multiple people, none of them knew what to do. They were all just staring at me hopelessly. I’m extremely blessed and fortunate to still be here today. However, I think about the countless number of people who weren’t as fortunate as me. Were people staring at them hopelessly in their time of suffering too? That’s why Stop the Bleed is important to me. It gives people the power to take control of what may seem like an uncontrollable situation.

Firearm safety training is equally as important as Stop the Bleed training. Our firearm safety training teaches individuals the proper way firearms should be stored, the proper way firearms should be handled, and how to prevent accidental death or injury. It is well-known that many of the gun-related deaths that occur in my neighborhood, and others like it, involve kids who shouldn’t have access to these firearms. As adults, we must acknowledge and take some responsibility in the role we play when it comes to youth gun violence. Whether it’s taking our firearms out of our cars at night, or ensuring we use gun locks, or teaching our youth the dangers of firearms, we have to start taking steps in the right direction to prevent these senseless gun-related injuries. The Whitney/Strong Save a Life Series is a step in the right direction! 

So, why should you attend a Save a Life session? Because you will gain the necessary tools and knowledge to save a life! You can help prevent someone from going through the pain of losing a son, brother, sister, daughter, father, mother, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, friend, or neighbor. The Whitney/Strong Save a Life Series will benefit not only West and South Louisville, but it will act as a model for other communities in the U.S. who experience similar trauma. Together, we can do better!