Amnesty International held a visual activism installation and guest speaker panel on the gun violence crisis in America called “In the Line of Fire: Gun Violence and Human Rights” in Jacobus Lounge on Thursday. Vice President of the Stevens Amnesty chapter, Paige Metzheiser, remarked, “This event is unique in that Amnesty usually discusses international issues but chose to focus on a domestic issue specific to the United States. The necessity for gun reform and gun safety is a human rights issue, and that’s why we held this event. The human rights issue is that people walk in fear.”
One of the more prominent facts was that over half of suicide deaths are with firearms. The exhibition called “Shooting Range” was full of interesting facts and photographs intended to show viewers the destructive effect of firearms in our society. Each table in Jacobus covered a different topic and gave a general description about the topics as well as imagery. Chalk outlines of people and true stories about gun violence victims and survivors were also on display in the back room, where the pool tables are located. Topics covered included access to ammunition, accidental shootings, domestic violence, effects on communities of color, human rights, mass shootings, suicide, and victim stories. After navigating the gallery and learning about the impact of gun violence in communities around the country, viewers were encouraged to take action by signing petitions to help change some of the statistics they saw and take photos at a photo booth with a backdrop and props to raise awareness about gun violence on social media platforms. Stickers, pens, and posters were available for people to take as well.
The speaker panel consisted of Amy Chen, member of the Speakers Bureau for the Community Justice Reform Coalition; Margaret Abrams, Domestic Violence Response Team Coordinator at Women Rising; and Prachi Rao, Field Organizer at Amnesty International. The panel started at 6 p.m. and discussed a variety of issues surrounding gun violence.
Public Relations Chair Jake Catalano, a junior, added “Gun violence is definitely an epidemic. This event shows how many Stevens students care about ending gun violence in America. I like the powerful imagery that helps to convey the experience that some individuals and communities face.”
Amnesty International will hold a coffee chat on the death penalty next Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. in Babbio 202.
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