RPTV WEEKLY NEWS (EP-63) Interview with Zero Gun Violence Movement Founder Louis March on Gun Violence Trends in Toronto

Louis March visited Focus Media Arts Centre to share his insightful analysis on recent crime trends in the city.

In this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Fred Alvarado, Kedar Ahmed, Gabriel Meissner and Jabin Haque, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas.

Episode 63 features segments on:

• 01:16 Regent Park streeters speak out on RCMP investigation into Ford government’s plan to open the Greenbelt land for development
• 11:17 Vulnerable Adults in Downtown East enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at YSM Bridges;
• 15:46 Progress Continues Toward a Community Benefits Agreement for Regent Park
• 17:34 Toronto Public Health celebrates 140th anniversary with a look-back presentation at City Hall.
• 32:23 Interview with Zero Gun Violence Movement founder Louis March on Gun violence trends in Toronto
• 1:00:57 Events and Jobs in Regent Park community

This week’s lead story:

Louis March visited Focus Media Arts Centre to share his insightful analysis on recent crime trends in the city.

By Fred Alvarado
Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

Louis March, the founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement, has been a volunteer community worker and advocate in the African Canadian community for over 30 years. His work has primarily focused on youth engagement and mentorship initiatives, along with serving on various community organization Boards and Advisory Committees.

Most recently, the Zero Gun Violence Movement has collaborated with over 40 different community organizations, agencies, and programs across the City, committed to addressing structural and socio-economic conditions that contribute to the gun violence problem. The Zero Gun Violence Movement is an awareness and advocacy movement that works across the City to engage people and organizations that are committed to being a part of the solution to reducing gun violence and also building safe and healthy communities, not for some, but for all.

Statistics in 2023 show gun violence in the city has decreased from the year before. Deaths and injuries due to shootings are down 20 per cent compared to this time last year, according to crime data from Toronto Police Services. There have been 108 recorded cases of gun violence that have killed 20 and injured 88 this year.
 
In a wide-ranging interview, Louis March speaks to RPTV Reporter Dimitrije Martinovic about:

• Recent trends and patterns in gun violence that the Zero Gun Violence Movement has observed in Toronto, specifically in Regent Park.
• The actual perception of Toronto residents in relation to gun violence in the city and the role of mainstream media in creating a sense of fear and despair in the city.
• The conditions that drive a concentration of shootings, stabbings, and other acts of violence in the downtown east side.
• The tangible solutions to gun violence, and…
• Zero Gun Violence Movement positive impact in our communities.