321ACTION: Extremism & violence, asylum seekers, teen girls' well-being
Ready to make a difference?
Here are three ways to get started:
1. Learn about the link between extremism & mass shootings
The spike in mass shootings linked to extremism over the last decade is incredibly alarming. A new ADL report shows that more than half of the ideologically motivated mass shootings since the 1970’s have occurred within the past 12 years. And, within the category of extremism, white supremacists commit the greatest number murders.
It is impossible to argue that easy access to guns, assault weapons, and ammunition has not had an impact on these crimes. Congress must act now to ban assault weapons, limit the purchase of ammunition, and mandate background checks on all gun purchases to curb this rise in violence.
Read the ADL Report on Extremism & Murder in the U.S.
2. Protect asylum seekers
Asylum is intended to protect – not punish – people who are fleeing for their lives, but last week the Department of Homeland Security issued a proposed regulation that makes it incredibly difficult for survivors of violence to seek asylum at the Southern U.S. border.
The new proposed “asylum ban” would deny access to asylum by any person who does not have an appointment or who has traveled through another country without applying for protection there first.
This regulation would cut off a crucial path to safety and send survivors back to incredibly dangerous situations. Send a message through HIAS’s portal to President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to ask that they not move forward with issuing the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the “asylum ban”.
Send a message to prevent dangerous and restrictive asylum bans
3. Read a report on threats to the well-being of teen girls and LGBTQ+ youth
Recent findings from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found teenage girls are experiencing “extremely high levels of mental distress, violence, and substance use.”
1 in 5 girls said they recently experienced sexual violence in 2021 and nearly 1/3 of girls reported they have seriously considered taking their lives.
Since 95% of children and adolescents in the U.S. spend much of the day at school, supporting schools in efforts to reverse these negative trends is critical.
Check to see if your school district uses the CDC’s evidence-based What Works in Schools program that helps schools create environments that are safer and more supportive.
If you are the parent of a teenager, here are 6 concrete ways you can help.
Read the CDC's report on threats to the well-being of teen girls & LGBTQ+ youth