Urbana Citizens Against Gun Violence was founded on November 29th, 2021, by a group of us who are FRUSTRATED by the fact that repeated shootings and an ongoing epidemic of gun violence in our community have claimed over 98 victims, 8 deaths, and 233 Confirmed Shots Fired in our own backyard. We founded Urbana Citizens Against Gun Violence based upon our conviction that the Citizens, Neighbors, Com
munity Members, and the people of Urbana, have not only the ability but also the moral responsibility - and the Voice to be HEARD. We rely instead on the activism of our members, some of whom are victims, both pictured and are very vocal. "DONT BE A STATISTIC: Take A Stand Against Gun Violence is our moto. The President and Co-Founder of Urbana Citizens Against Gun Violence, Jonathan Blake, is a recent 2021 victim “Survivor” of gun violence and has taken a stand. Todd Durnil, a 15 year resident of Champaign, Co-Founder & Treasurer, has graciously accepted the role in the attempt to keep everything transparent in the public's eye. Together, we formed (Urbana CAGV) to become a VOICE, A FACE, and a Reliable source for victims, Survivors of gun violence. “We may be a victim TODAY, but WE ARE SURVIVORS of tomorrow. In the short time since founding Citizens Against Gun Violence, there’s been a gratifying response from other City Leaders, victims, families of, Survivors and from the public, looking for an organization that will work toward definitive measures to voice the need to stop gun violence in our community. We acknowledge the need for tools in aiding the police, educating today's youth, and assisting our community in any way possible. With the Foundation and cooperation of our city leaders, churches, and outreach programs we will be working toward making the impossible possible. Our mission statements.: We the Citizens/Neighbors/Victims/Survivors of Urbana, can - and must - take urgent, definitive action to stop the epidemic of gun violence that afflicts our community. If you agree, please go to the Join/Donate page of this website to become a member of Citizens Against Gun Violence and to make a donation. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service regulations. We take a stand today, so that one day, the Urbana City Council will adopt stringent gun violence laws, give aid and tools needed to the police departments, as well as become compliant and comparable to the laws already in place in every other high-income Democratic country of the world. The only question is how many more citizens will die needlessly of gunshot wounds before that day arrives? With your help, we’ll stop the epidemic of gun violence in our community sooner than later. Since we Opened our Doors, we have successfully donated 800 Doorbell Cameras into the Champaign/Urbana area, helped 3000 Low Income Families with Free Cell Phones and 3500 Tablets. We are moving forward every day to do something more.
