A Powerful Morning of Art, Reflection, and Action on Gun Violence at Rodeph Shalom
Teacher at Congregation Rodeph Shalom taking children through the exhibition of portraits from Souls Shot Portrait Project’s exhibition.
We are grateful to Congregation Rodeph Shalom for hosting Souls Shot Portrait Project’s exhibition and for arranging for a moving and powerful event on Sunday, April 27. Kudos to Susan Frankel, Bonnie Silverman, and Doug Rosenblum!
Expertly led by Doug Rosenblum, the morning started off with time to interact with the portraits followed by questions posed to those gathered to consider the parallels of ostracized groups in the Bible and the isolation felt by communities most impacted by gun violence. They were also asked to discuss the implications of gun violence as more than a criminal justice issue, but as a public health crisis that can be “predicted, prevented, and treated.”
The Honorable Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia City Council President, relayed how he had lost a cousin to gun violence when he was young and was then pressured to join in with a plan for retaliation. Instead, he founded Peace Without Guns which focuses on youth gun violence.
He mentioned that the numbers of gun deaths are going down but that “now, more than ever” we need to make sure this trend continues. Grants for projects responsible for this positive movement are being threatened and we all need to stay vigilant and communicate with our state and federal representatives.
Dr. Elinore Kaufman, MD., MSHP, FACS, Medical Director Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program, was next to speak, reiterating President Johnson’s point. She spoke, too, about the fact that the overwhelming percentage of victims in Philadelphia are Black and urged us to consider the role that systemic racism has played and does play in this grim statistic. She mentioned several programs that seem to be making a difference and urged us all to spread awareness and do what we can - “our legislators need to hear from us”.
Lisa Harmon, mother of Alan Christopher Gray, whose portrait “Forever Fresh” by Elisa Abeloff hangs in the exhibition, began her remarks by reminding us to tell our children we love them. Her son’s life was taken by three bullets. His life was taken in an instant because of a stupid argument and an available gun.
She described her journey through unbearable grief and felt, at the beginning, that “all blame was on me”. Of course she was not to blame but her sentiment reflects those of many of the family and friends that participate in Souls Shot Portrait Project. They are often asked about the shooting, the death, the grim details, and asked questions such as “ Why was he there? What was he doing” as if the families are responsible for the tragedy. This is one of the underlying reasons Souls Shot Portrait Project focuses on the lives lived, on the human beings whose lives were intertwined with so many, many loved ones, and who will be missed. The availability of guns is the overriding cause of this epidemic.
Lisa also remarked that if all people were affected by gun violence it would be different. We have found that while gun violence is prevalent in certain communities, usually in urban areas, it is hard to find anyone in this country who does not know someone who has been affected by gun violence. We have invited many people from suburban areas to participate, to let us memorialize their loved ones and it is rare that they are willing to do so. People tend to think they are immune, but with the amount of guns in this country and the lack of common sense gun safety laws and measures, no one is immune.
The families and friends that participate with Souls Shot Portrait Project are so brave and generous to share their loved ones through the portraits. And we are so thankful for Lisa and other family members who have taken the extra brave step to speak at events such as this one and to eloquently augment the experience for all those trying to understand the issue and take action in some meaningful way.
Doug Rosenblum ended the program by assuring us that each of us can do one thing, even if it is only one thing, to work towards peace.
Aubrey Fink, Associate Director of Souls Shot Portrait Project gives an overview of the project before the panel discussion. On the dais is Dr. Elinore Kaufman, MD., MSHP, FACS, Medical Director Penn Trauma Violence Recovery Program, The Honorable Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia City Council President, and Ms. Lisa Harmon, speaking about her experience losing her son Alan Christopher Gray to gun violence.
Portraits seen here are of David Devine Wills, Jr. by Christopher Hardgrove, John Tillar by Jacqueline Lewis, Tashon Martin by Caroline Stoughton, Alan Christopher Gray by Elisa Abeloff, Christopher Yeiser by Marie Maber, Officer Lauretia Vaird by Jonny Castro, Sha’mir Ta’jae Gilmore by RA Friedman, and Nyfeic and Shafeic Hawkins by Ebony Bennett.
Those gathered discussed questions posed to the group.
Souls Shot Portrait Project board members Steve Heath, center leaning over, and Judy Heath, seated to his left, speak with Lisa Harmon, seated foreground.
