In 2023, Wilshire advocacy partner Texas Impact launched Vidas Robadas (Stolen Lives), a project to reduce gun violence by memorializing its victims through public installations. By displaying T-shirts that name or represent victims in Dallas County, the effort will honor the individuals and make visible the reality of gun violence in our community.
On Sunday, April 28, the Christian Advocacy Committee will host a T-shirt-making event after worship in Community Hall. Sunday School classes may choose to participate during class. Each colored shirt will show the name, age and death date of someone who died of gun violence in the last five years. Each white shirt will represent a suicide and show a crisis hotline number.
Prior to their installation at Wilshire in late May, our 200 shirts will be displayed alongside those from other churches outside the National Rifle Association convention in Dallas on May 18.
The Christian Advocacy Committee and Wilshire’s deacons have wholeheartedly agreed for Wilshire to participate in Stolen Lives. The T-shirts we make will be installed along the brick wall north of the church building on Abrams Road. Many other faith communities are joining Texas Impact in this effort, which will culminate next February with a display of all shirts at the state capitol on Gun Violence Reduction Advocacy Day.
We hope you’ll make plans to join us on April 28 for this impactful and moving project. Contact Associate Pastor Heather Mustain to learn more (hmustain@wilshirebc.org).