Unitarian Universalist Fellowship supports

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Diego supports victims of gun violence through hosting Survivor Empowered: Honor With Action tour. (photo by Skitterphoto on pexels.com)

The Survivors Empowered: Honor with Action Tour kicked off last February 19 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Diego. The church also shared a video of this movement on its website.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Survivors Empowered

Last February 19, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Diego Campus served as the venue for launching Survivors Empowered: Honor with Action 2022. According to its website, the power of the survivors of gun violence in the video changed lives. Sandy and Lonnie Philips are the founders of Survivors Empowered.

According to its webpage, the mission of Survivors Empowered is to empower survivors of violence and to use their stories to create a reduction in violence that everyone desires. Philips founded the organization after their daughter, Jessica Redfield Ghawi, and 11 others were slaughtered in the Aurora Colorado Theater Mass Shooting in 2012.

This non–profit organization was originally named Jessi’s Message. It has grown into Survivors Empowered, a national organization created by survivors, for survivors, and empowering survivors.

Survivors Empowered provides support and referral for survivors of violence and connects to a support network of other survivors in their area. Moreover, it also educates survivors to tell their stories compellingly to speak on the issue of violence in their communities.

Survivors Empowered features an Oral History Film project. This project allows wounded gun violence survivors to archive their stories for research purposes. Furthermore, its Rapid Response Team comprises veteran survivors of violence.

According to the organization’s website, local government and law enforcement can be overwhelmed after a mass casualty event. The victims are in total shock or are struggling for their lives.

Aurora Colorado Theater Shooting

According to CNN, 12 people were killed and 70 injured in a movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, on July 20, 2012. James Holmes was found guilty on all 165 counts against him.

These include 24 first–degree murders, 140 attempted murders, and one count of possession or control of an explosive or incendiary device.

He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He received the verdict on July 16, 2015.

He is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Complex in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. CNN reported police said Holmes bought the guns used in the incident legally at two sporting goods stores, Gander Mountain and Bas Pro Shops.

He also bought more than 6,000 rounds of ammunition online. The report also shared Holmes purchased a ticket on July 7 for the July 19 midnight showing of “

The Dark Knight Rises”.

Then, 18 minutes into the movie, he opens fire to the audience shortly after midnight. This shooting incident happened at the Century Aurora 16 Multiplex Theater in Aurora, Colorado.

Jessica Ghawi, Sandy and Lonnie Philips’s daughter, was one of the fatalities.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Diego

As per its webpage, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship regularly meets for its women’s groups, choir, book club, men’s groups, and Sunday morning discussion group. Its annual events include the Annual All Fellowship Weekend at de Benneville Pines, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July Weekends on Mount Laguna.