Acclaimed Photographer Henry Leutwyler Captures Inspiring Images of Survivors With Their Hands over Their Hearts, Pledging to End the Daily Toll of Gun
Violence That Kills 88 Americans and Injures Hundreds More
NEW YORK CITY – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America unveiled “Pledge: Not One More,” a photo tribute series from acclaimed photographer Henry Leutwyler, just ahead of the July 4th holiday. Found here, the images capture inspiring portraits of 16 gun violence survivors – including survivors of mass shootings and survivors of every day acts of gun violence – with their hands over their hearts, while wearing bracelets engraved with the national rallying cry “Not One More.” The survivors have all chosen to take a simple pledge leading up to the July 4th holiday: “Pledge: Not One More,” because every American has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – concepts ingrained in the Declaration of Independence. These rights are compromised by America’s crisis of gun violence.
The photo tribute release comes just two weeks after the mass shooting of nine people at Charleston’s Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The survivors featured in this photo series are part of a network of gun violence survivors who are standing together to take action to reduce gun violence in America. The images are a powerful reminder that the gun violence crisis that kills 88 Americans every day, and injures hundreds more, begs for all of us to do more to help make America safer.
“Fighting to save American lives from gun violence is one of the most deeply patriotic things you can do,” said Richard Martinez, whose son Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez was shot and killed in the May 2014 shooting near UC Santa Barbara and Senior Outreach Associate for Everytown for Gun Safety. “In the wake of Christopher’s death, I believe that ‘Not One More’ person should be killed by senseless gun violence in this country. As we prepare to come together and celebrate the birth of our country, I’ll pledge to do more to stand up for safer gun laws that will help save American lives.”
The “Not One More” bracelet initiative, created in partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, Urban Zen and Lise Evans, supports the growing movement of Americans coming together to pass common-sense public safety measures that will reduce gun violence and save lives. The bracelet features the words “Not One More”, a national rallying cry of the gun safety movement coined by Richard Martinez, the father of 20-year-old Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez who was killed in the tragedy near the campus of UC Santa Barbara in May 2014. Immediately after the tragedy, Richard Martinez stood up and demanded that “Not One More” should die from senseless gun violence in this country.
The “Pledge: Not One More” photo tribute series includes portraits of:
Natasha Christopher, whose son, Akeal, died on his 15th birthday — eleven days after he was shot after a graduation party in Brooklyn on June 27, 2012.
Patricia Craig, whose nephew Ryan “Stack” Clark was killed in the mass shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, in which 32 of his classmates and professors were murdered.
Yvonne Crasso, whose 23-year-old sister, Nina Michele Bradley, was in a relationship with a history of domestic abuse. Nina was found dead from a gunshot wound after a heated marital argument with her husband on October 27th, 2012. The incident was ruled a suicide.
Sonia DeLeon, whose 46-year-old sister, Nicolette Elias, was shot and killed by her ex-husband who then shot and killed himself on November 10th, 2014. Sonia is now raising Nicolette’s two children.
Madeline Garcelon, whose 46-year-old daughter, Nicolette Elias, was shot and killed by her ex-husband who then shot and killed himself on November 10th, 2014.
Colin Goddard, who was shot four times and survived the mass shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, in which 32 of his classmates and professors were murdered. Colin is a Senior Policy Advocate at Everytown for Gun Safety.
Maxine Lewis, whose son, Carlton Locksley, was shot and killed on February 6th, 1993 in the Bronx, NY. He was targeted for his gold chain necklace that he was wearing at the time.
Jennifer Longdon. Jennifer and her fiancé David Rueckert were both shot while going through a drive-through restaurant in Arizona on November 15, 2004. Jennifer is now a wheelchair user because one of the bullets caused a serious spinal cord injury and paralyzed her. David was blinded and sustained a traumatic brain injury as a result of the shooting.
Richard Martinez, whose 20-year-old son, Christopher Michaels-Martinez, was one of six people shot and killed in the Isla Vista rampage on May 23, 2014 near the campus of UC Santa Barbara, CA. Richard is a Senior Outreach Associate at Everytown for Gun Safety.
Darchel Mohler, the mother of 13-year-old Brooklynn Mae Mohler, who was at a friend’s home when her friend unintentionally shot and killed her with an unsecured gun on June 4, 2013.
Jacob Mohler, the father of 13-year-old Brooklynn Mae Mohler, who was at a friend’s home when her friend unintentionally shot and killed her with an unsecured gun on June 4, 2013.
Judi Richardson, whose 25-year-old daughter, Darien, was shot several times during a home invasion, while asleep in her bedroom on January 8, 2010. She spent 20 days in the hospital and later died during complications caused by the gunshot wounds. The homicide case is still unsolved.
Wayne Richardson, whose 25-year-old daughter, Darien, was shot several times during a home invasion, while asleep in her bedroom on January 8, 2010. She spent 20 days in the hospital and later died during complications caused by the gunshot wounds. The homicide case is still unsolved.
Diana Alvarado Rodriguez, whose 18-year-old daughter, Samantha Guzman, was shot and killed on Mother’s Day 2006 in the Bronx, NY while she and her friends were coming home from a party.
Sandra Rougier, whose only son, Teshawn Samuel, was shot and killed on February 1, 1999 in Brooklyn, NY, while handing out invitations to his daughter’s 4th birthday party.
DeAndra Yates, whose 13-year-old son, DeAndre, was shot at a birthday party for a 15-year-old friend. A bullet entered the home from a remote location and struck DeAndre’s skull, leaving him unable to walk or talk.
Henry Leutwyler’s photographs have been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, Esquire and Time. His work has won prestigious awards such as American Society of Magazine Editors Cover of the Year, Graphis Photographer of the Year and many more.
Additionally, today Everytown released a new video with Richard Martinez sharing the stories behind the wristbands he’s received from survivors of gun violence all across the country. The video, available here, captures how important these bracelets are in memorializing victims of gun violence.
The official “Not One More” bracelets are available at www.Everytown.org/store. Proceeds from each bracelet will support Everytown for Gun Safety’s efforts to pass common-sense public safety measures that will reduce gun violence and save lives