From Tragedy to Action: How Stop All Violence was Born
Greetings everyone!
Many of you may already be familiar with my work as the founder of Stop All Violence, but what you may not know is that I am also a founding member and was senior editor of the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. Through my involvement with the journal, I gained a deeper understanding of the legal and policy aspects of political and civil rights and the role they play in promoting social change.
Today, I want to share with you the powerful story of how Stop All Violence was born. Many of you may already be familiar with our work as a socially conscious brand with a strong message for socio-political change. But what you may not know is the story behind our mission.
Stop All Violence, originally known as Stop Stuff, was born out of tragedy. It was the death of Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old Black man, who was shot and killed by two Baton Rouge police officers in 2016, the footage of his death on repeat, that made me realize I couldn't sit back and do nothing.
As I began to research and learn more about the impact of violence, I met Jerry Levin, a dear friend and mentor whose son was shot and killed in NYC. The pain and loss he and his family experienced was unimaginable, and it solidified my commitment to act.
The countless victims of violence and their families who were suffering every day motivated me to create Stop All Violence. From inception, Stop All Violence has had an energy of its own that invites the opportunity to share and discuss personal stories of tragedy. While on my way to order the first run of STOP hats, I met a man who shared the story of his son being shot to death on a porch in Chicago while sitting with his girlfriend.
Our goal is to support individuals and organizations that are effectively reducing violence and improving the quality of life for all. We want to build partnerships that connect capital, expertise, and vision, so that together we can discover, develop, and support solutions that result in evidence-based change worldwide, and highlight the men and women standing against violence of all kinds, for all people.
We're not a charity, we're a social enterprise in action. By purchasing from our online store, customers become agents of change. Our Stop All Violence line is a socially conscious brand with strong messages for socio-political change. The STOP logo is edgy with the downturned gun, and more accessible to some without it. I am proud to own the registered trademarks to both the logo and the word STOP for clothing and online retail stores. By wearing our products, customers send a powerful message that they want to stop gun violence.
Our mission is more important now than ever before. Violence in all its forms continues to plague our communities, with tragic consequences. We can no longer sit back and watch as violence destroys lives and communities. We need to commit our time, resources, and voice to create a better world.
At Stop All Violence, we believe that everyone has a role to play in creating a more peaceful world. Whether it's through activism, philanthropy, or simply wearing our products, every action counts. Together, we can make a difference and create a world where violence is no longer tolerated.
If you're interested in taking part, the Stop Shop is now available:https://www.stopallviolence.com/stopshop
Seanne