FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8th, 2022
Contact:
Cindi Creager, CreagerCole Communications (646) 279-4559, cindi@creagercole.com
Orie Givens, AVP Director of Communications (614) 571-5131, ogivens@avp.org
New York City Anti-Violence Project Launches “Our Pride, Our Safety” Campaign During Pride Season 2022
Initiative Aims to Spotlight Violence that Disproportionately Impacts Marginalized LGBTQ Communities and Build Awareness About Community-Led Safety Models
New York, NY – As Pride season begins, the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) announces a new initiative to raise awareness about the forms of violence affecting the most vulnerable in our community and offer community-based solutions for addressing safety concerns. Our Pride, Our Safety: Building a Community-Led Model launches two years after the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Elijah McClain, Tony McDade and other African American people lost at the hands of police, incidents that unleashed a reckoning about policing in America. LGBTQ people were highly engaged in the protests and demonstrations that followed the murders.
“These incidents brought to the surface a robust discussion about our reliance on police and investment in police during Pride, a time that is sacred to our community,” said Beverly Tillery, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP). “Incidents of violence, including police violence, continue to disproportionately impact BIPOC transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people, immigrants, people who are low-income and others marginalized in our society. Instead of relying on institutions that continue to cause harm, we can build other models for safety that involve community members and organizations we trust and that center the needs of those most impacted by violence.”
AVP is an expert in upstander intervention and de-escalation training. Our Pride, Our Safety will showcase community-led safety models at Pride celebrations throughout the city to demonstrate new approaches for safety and protection. There are numerous opportunities for community members to get involved.
“We can all play a role in building a safe community which is why AVP aims to train as many upstanders as possible,” Tillery said. “By taking steps to make it safer for those who are most marginalized and impacted by violence, we create a safer climate for everyone.”
AVP champions this model at a time when the LGBTQ community is highly visible, and therefore more susceptible to violent acts. While its safety model focuses on community-based solutions, AVP also believes a person’s safety is a personal matter.
“We acknowledge and support those in our community who advocate for police involvement. We trust every survivor to decide for themselves,” said Tillery.” AVP will continue to help survivors who want to engage the police and we will continue to advocate to ensure survivors are heard, have what they need, and are treated with respect and dignity.”
Read more about Our Pride, Our Safety at AVP’s campaign website, including our FAQ page.
Engage in the campaign through volunteering, canvassing and tabling. Sign up here.
Find Our Pride, Our Safety shareable social media assets here.