The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and the Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence (CAV) stand side by side with CeaseFirePA on their powerful statement about the death of what appears to be at this time some 18 Elementary School children and 3 teachers in Uvalde, Texas. As many of you know B-PEP/CAV had just sponsored, with many community and religious partners just last Thursday, May 19th at First United Methodist Church a very special, moving interfaith and interagency service addressing the issue of hate and violence in our Pittsburgh Region and in the nation. This latest tragedy in Texas must reinforce our collective commitment to changing the hearts and minds of our politicians and the hearts and minds of the citizens of our nation. We cannot ever allow ourselves to accept these continuing tragedies to be viewed as "commonplace" in America
