Anti-Gun Violence Movement POL 4900 CUNY Baruch College
In Urban centers across the nation, gun violence has inflicted an incredible amount of grief into the hearts of many minority communities. One city in particular, Chicago, has been riddled with gun violence for four decades and matters are not lightening up. In response to this crisis, social activists and organizations in Chicago have risen to the occasion and fought for a safer city and a viable future. Since the mid-20th century, activists such as Jesse Jackson, Fr. Michael Pfleger, Jeff Fort, and organizations such as BUILD, Chicago Cred, and the Joyce Foundation have been advocating for sustained peace, economic prosperity, and policy change in the afflicted areas of Chicago's South and West Side. While making strides and showing glimpses of promise, this movement has been hindered by a number of factors including poor timing of resource mobilization and lack of advantageous political opportunity. The fight against gun violence within the city limits continues to this day and the promise of change looms over the South and West side.
**Other students in this POL 4900 seminar are researching other U.S. social movements. You can learn about their research here.