City of Rochester
News Release
(Tuesday, July 17, 2018) – Mayor Lovely A. Warren and
Willie J. Lightfoot, Rochester Councilmember and Chair of the Public Safety
Youth and Recreation Committee, announced the new #ThinkAboutIt campaign to
educate the community about the devastating and long-lasting impacts of gun
violence in the city.
“Gun violence has traumatized our community and destroyed
lives and families for far too long,” Mayor Warren said. “We know that, as City
leaders, we cannot legislate morality, but we can bring the community together.
We can unite our voices to say enough is enough.
“I want to thank Mayor Warren for this opportunity to
address the issue of gun violence in our community,” said Councilmember
Lightfoot. “As a member of the City Council, I want to draw more awareness to
an issue that is causing so much pain and suffering for my fellow citizens –
realizing that we are not going to fix this problem with more legislation. We
need to foster a dialogue on gun violence, and begin thinking about the very
real consequences of the split-second decision to shoot another human being,
harming another human life… and that’s what we hope to accomplish with this
campaign.”
The #ThinkAboutIt campaign will be spearheaded by the ROC
Against Violence Coalition, a group of community partners and stakeholders
dedicated to the cause. Lightfoot formed the coalition last month.
The campaign encourages the Rochester community to take a
second and think about the inhumane, irreversible, and painful reality of gun
violence. Focused on both the causes and impacts of gun violence, this campaign
strives to institute ways to combat this issue head on.
Anyone looking to find other alternatives to gun violence
wanting to be a part of this campaign, and/or coalition, can call Councilmember
Lightfoot’s office - (585) 428-6554, the Rochester City Council Office - (585)
428-7538 or email Councilman Lightfoot’s Legislative Aide Andre Gulley at andre.gulley@cityofrochester.gov.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/thinkaboutit.
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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer
Jessica Alaimo, 428-7135.