Tuesday, May 18 – Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Washington, D.C. – America’s mayors are gathering virtually for a summit on Reimagining Public Safety on Tuesday, May 18 and Wednesday, May 19, 2021. The virtual summit, being held in partnership with Cities United and Everytown for Gun Safety, will be convened as Congress is being called to act on both background check and police reform legislation.

Mayors will discuss how reimagining public safety can make our cities more just, equitable and safe. Last year, major cities across the U.S. saw a 33% increase in homicides. Additionally, U.S. cities experienced a dramatic 48% rise in gunshot incidents during 2020 compared with 2019. These increases in gun violence prompted more than 150 mayors to send a letter to the U.S. Senate urging action on background check legislation.

Topics to be discussed include police reform, the factors behind gun violence, how to ensure a whole of city government approach to improving public safety and building capacity in cities for peaceful protests.

 WHAT:

Reimagining Public Safety Summit

WHO:

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, USCM President

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser

Eduardo Bocanegra, Senior Director, READI Chicago

Dr. Shani Buggs, Assistant Professor, Violence Prevention Research Program, University of California

Christopher 2X, Christopher 2X Game Changers

C.J. Davis, Chief of Police, Durham, NC and Past President, NOBLE

Marcus T. Ellis, Chief of Staff, Safer, Stronger DC Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, Executive Office of the Mayor, Washington, DC

Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff, Center for Police Equity

Karol Mason, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Pastor Michael McBride, Director of Urban Strategies and LIVE FREE Campaign, Berkeley

Charles Ramsey, Former Police Chief in Washington, DC and Philadelphia; USCM Advisor

Anthony Smith, Executive Director, Cities United

Michael Smith, Director of Youth Opportunity Programs, Obama Foundation; Executive Director, My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

Michael-Sean Spence, Director, Community Safety Initiatives, Everytown for Gun Safety

Chuck Wexler, Executive Director, Police Executive Research Foundation

Rev. Dr. Sheridan Todd Yeary, Chief Administrative Officer, Rainbow PUSH Coalition; Senior Pastor, Douglas Memorial Community Church, Baltimore

WHEN: Tuesday, May 18 – Wednesday, May 19, 2021; 1- 4 pm ET

RSVP: Interested media should RSVP to Sara Durr at [email protected].