Gun Violence is a relatively new issue for Texas Impact. It wasn’t until the Ulvade Massacre in 2022 that our board and staff decided we had to prioritize gun violence. Despite our novelty in this issue, with the support of congregations from all over we have been able to make huge strides – specifically with our gun violence prevention and awareness campaign, Vidas Robadas or Stolen Lives.
For those who are unfamiliar with Vidas Robadas, it is a state-wide initiative that brings advocates, government officials, and the faith community together through memorial installations. These installations are made of t-shirt memorials that name or represent members of our communities who have died from gun violence. The t-shirt memorials localize and make visual gun violence, helping to humanize the sometimes overwhelming statistics behind gun-related deaths.
Though Vidas Robadas is not even a year old, it has been embraced by local congregations all over Texas. T-shirt memorials have been made in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio and by May 18th will be displayed in all four cities. Since the launch of the project last fall, we have done some incredible work.
In Bexar County, over 2,400 t-shirt memorials have been made, nearly completing the list of 2700 residents stolen by gun violence since 2018. With these memorials, we have created a dozen different installations held at various congregations and events.
San Antonio is preparing for a new round of installations. In honor of June 7th, which is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Texas Impact is joining Moms Demand Action, Big Mama’s Safehouse, and other local organizations for a “Wear Orange” event on June 8th. A special Vidas Robadas installation will go up at Phyllis Wheatley Park to accompany a press conference and family-friendly day honoring those stolen by gun violence. Simultaneously, smaller Vidas Robadas installations will be going up all over San Antonio at congregations that formerly hosted an installation as well as several new ones. Keep your eye out for details for the event coming soon.
In Harris County, the first installation went up at Bering Church this past March, where 200 t-shirt memorials were displayed. Installations will be popping up at First Congregational Church of Houston next along with Bethel United Church of Christ, Trinity Midtown Episcopal Church, and First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston later this year.
Elsewhere, May 18th is shaping up to be a busy day. In Dallas, Texas Impact is once again joining Moms Demand Action and Giffords Gun Owners for Safety for a Rally for Gun Violence Prevention and NRA Accountability. For the event, six local congregations and counting will be making over 500 t-shirt memorials, which will be displayed at a press conference at City Hall as gun violence survivors, advocates, and faith leaders call for safer communities. The event is occurring parallel to the NRA National Convention in Dallas this year, to call out bad actors in the gun violence conversation. To register and get more details, check out this link.
Austinites are joining in as well. On May 18th, Central Presbyterian Church is holding “STOP SHOOTING,” a free choral concert by tenor/bass choir Un/Heard to draw awareness to gun violence in our communities and specifically highlight violence against LBGTQ+ individuals. The concert will be at 7:00 pm in Central Presbyterian’s sanctuary. It will be accompanied by the first Vidas Robadas installation in Austin.
Gun violence is a tough and sobering issue. But with the overwhelming support and compassion from the faith community, one can’t help but feel hopeful for the work that we can do to make our communities safer.