Our hearts are broken as we continue to grieve and mourn the children, mothers, aunts, neighbors and friends whose lives were taken in yet another mass shooting, that took place in Uvalde, Texas yesterday afternoon. All of us at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims.

We beg of our leaders that when the inevitable discussion turns to why this happened – again – that yes, we talk about guns and how they are too easy to come by, but we must go beyond that. Why are so many young men reaching for guns in the first place? If we don’t answer that question, all the gun policies in the world won’t prevent the next tragedy. It pains us that we are back here again, talking about another mass murder at a school. Intervention and healing need to take place.

For survivors, events such as this can cause pain and trauma to resurface for many of us, even when they happen far away.

Here is a gentle reminder to practice self-care. Limit consumption of the news, stay hydrated and nourished, and spend time with your loved ones and community, wherever you feel supported and safe. And we invite you to watch a message from Generation Peace.

If you have experienced the murder of a loved one, you deserve to be supported with dignity and compassion, regardless of the circumstances. The Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s mission is to serve as a center of Healing, Teaching, and Learning for families and communities impacted by murder, trauma, grief, and loss. We are an integral partner to the City of Boston and have developed best practices and homicide response toolkits in serving families and communities impacted by murder for 28 years. We offer resources to families seeking support. Learn more at https://www.ldbpeaceinstitute.org/ or call 617-825-1917.