ROCKFORD — On the heels of a deadly year in which shootings in the city more than doubled, faith leaders are urging officials to put money toward curbing gun violence.
Live Free Illinois, an organization whose mission is to end gun violence and mass incarceration, held a news conference Friday afternoon at Spirit of Truth Church, 828 First Ave. The faith-based organization is on a statewide campaign called "Fund Peace" to urge city and state officials to spend a portion of its federal American Rescue Plan money on gun violence prevention programs.
Within the next two weeks, the city of Rockford is expected to receive its first installment of $54 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. The organization is asking the city to allocate $3 million to fund its program over the next two years.