The idea that a child would prepare for death is shocking. With gun violence continuing to surge and 2021 in pace  to be the most violent year for the US in two decades, Change The Ref and Team ENOUGH have partnered with AREA 23 to use shock to motivate the US government to control guns. 100 people are killed every day in the US due to gun violence and 115,551 people annually.

Their national campaign, My Last Will, features the testaments of people who shouldn’t have to write one yet, teens and youths who are demanding in their last will that the US Senate act now to stop gun violence in America. The youth testimonies will be shared publicly by Change The Ref and Team ENOUGH and sent to each individual’s appropriate member of Congress, urging them to take action.

Manuel Oliver, co-founder of Change the Ref and father of Parkland victim Joaquín “Guac” Oliver, stated, “Since February 14th, 2018, I’ve been trying to expose the role of gun violence in our nation. I’ve traveled around the country trying to get people to understand that they don’t need to suffer firsthand what my family has gone through after losing our beautiful son Joaquin. Today, I believe that our only hope is to make a final call based on the young people’s right to a safe future. Unfortunately, I’ve reached a point where my best option is to become more radical and graphic with our disruptive message. It’s time for American parents to listen to their kids before their voices vanish.”

Patricia Oliver, co-founder of Change the Ref and mother of Parkland victim Joaquín “Guac” Oliver, added, “Since I lost my dearest son Joaquin on February 14th, 2018 in Parkland, my purpose in life is to advocate for gun regulation. The emptiness and incapacity to feel Joaquin’s physical presence inspire me to fight against social issues in the United States due to gun violence. I wish to see that significant changes are made to make our nation one where no one has to live in fear, thinking that they can lose their loved ones through this epidemic.”

Aalayah Eastmond, survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and Team ENOUGH Executive Council Member, wrote, “I experienced a mass shooting before I was 18, but the Parkland shooting was not my family’s first experience with gun violence. My uncle Patrick was killed in Brooklyn when he was only 18. My cousin was shot just last week. Gun violence is a reality for all of us in America, and as a Black woman in this country, since birth I was more likely to experience gun violence. In America, Black people are nearly 10 times more likely to die from gun homicide than white people, while gun violence is the leading cause of death for Black youth. In total, 73 percent of gun homicide victims are Black or Hispanic. Gun violence is an epidemic. It is a racial justice issue. And, we need action to stop it now.”

Tim Hawkey, chief creative officer of AREA 23, added, “We’ve been working with Manuel and Patricia since May 2018, less than 3 months after they lost their son, Joaquin. Their commitment to change gun laws, and their energy to keep fighting for it day after day, have always been a source of great inspiration for me personally and for our entire team. We hope that My Last Will can amplify the voice of young people across the country, making it impossible for senators to ignore their testaments demanding stronger gun laws.”

Watch the videos and read the testimonies here. Join the movement to end gun violence and share your last will on social media using #mylastwill.