On August 4, 2009, we attended a community-based anti-gun violence mural project in our neighborhood of Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Just a few days earlier there had been a shooting in the neighborhood–while the mural was not in direct response to that shooting, the shooting helped to contextualize the need for such projects, even when crime in the neighborhood is near an all-time low.

Scores of residents came together to contribute to the 100 foot “Piece Out, Peace In” mural, demonstrating that virtues of the 1st Amendment can prevail over misuses of the 2nd. This project was spearheaded by:

• Assemblyman Karim Camara – who has some other great projects for the neighborhood underway (which we’ll hopefully post about later.
• Crown Heights Community Mediation Center – who has been doing research for up to three years on the issue of gun violence.  They continue to take an in-depth probe on the question of what can be done to reduce gun-violence in our community. 
• Groundswell Community Mural Project – which engages underserved youth throughout the city to create amazing works of public art across all five boroughs.
• American Friends Service Committee – a Quaker based peace and social justice organization.
• New Yorkers Against Gun Violence – a group that works to reduce gun violence “through education and legislation”. 

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