Memorial to folks killed by gun violence is faraway from ATF headquarters : NPR

An exhibit exhibiting victims of gun violence has been taken down on the headquarters of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Division of Justice has confirmed.

The exhibit confirmed the portraits of 120 folks killed in gun violence. A digital kiosk with biographies of every individual was additionally a part of the exhibit. A web-based model has additionally been taken down.

The ATF enforces federal gun legal guidelines and is tasked with regulating the firearms business. It’s throughout the Division of Justice.

A kind of portraits taken down was of Robert Godwin Sr., who was shot to loss of life in Cleveland in 2017 whereas he was out amassing aluminum cans.

On the wall, Godwin was pictured smiling and making ready fish he’d simply caught for a household meal. Godwin’s daughter, Brenda Joiner, describes her father as an avid fisherman, who was humble and beloved. She says his place within the inaugural exhibit was particular.

Robert Godwin Sr. is pictured together with his daughter Brenda Joiner. Godwin’s portrait was a part of the Faces of Gun Violence exhibit on the ATF headquarters.

Brenda Joiner

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Brenda Joiner

“It was completely an honor and a really proud second and I felt like this nation was really taking recognition and being attentive to all of the lives which are misplaced to gun violence,” she instructed NPR.

In an announcement to NPR on Sunday, a DOJ spokesperson prompt it’ll nonetheless honor victims in different methods, however not solely of gun violence: “The ATF will proceed to honor the reminiscence of all victims of violent crime whereas on the identical time preserving the rights of law-abiding Individuals.”

Faces of Gun Violence honored victims of mass shootings and faculty shootings, in addition to victims of home violence, individuals who died by suicide, and different victims of gun violence. Portraits of legislation enforcement officers killed by gun violence had been additionally a part of the exhibit.

The elimination was first reported by The Washington Publish.

The Justice Division devoted the exhibit in April 2024. The Biden administration deliberate for a brand new group of 200 victims to be honored by the memorial every year.

Former ATF Director Steven Dettelbach stated in an announcement on the time of the dedication final yr: “The ‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit is a everlasting reminder of what ATF involves work to do day by day — a reminder of why brokers threat their lives and why everybody at ATF dedicates their careers to this mission: to honor the fallen and defend the residing.”

The Biden administration had already chosen the brand new group of honorees who had been alleged to be put in within the subsequent exhibit, changing the inaugural group, in keeping with Kris Brown, president of Brady: United Towards Gun Violence. Brown says her group and different teams supplied enter within the choice course of and new households had been anticipating the set up of their family members to the exhibit final month.

“For individuals who had been already traumatized sufficient by gun violence, simply the unceremonious lack of care taken right here is deeply, deeply troubling,” stated Brown in an interview with NPR.

Brown views the DOJ’s determination to take down the exhibit as political and an instance of the Trump administration’s efforts to roll again firearms rules.

“What they need to do is deny the truth that gun violence exists and that makes me very offended,” stated Brown. “What we’ll see over time is totally an increase in gun violence; we’ll see an increase in murder; we’ll see an increase in suicide; we’ll see an increase in unintentional harm of children with weapons within the house.”

Fred Guttenberg’s daughter Jaime was pictured on the Faces of Gun Violence memorial. She was among the many 17 folks shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Excessive Faculty in Parkland, Fla., in 2018.

“I labored with the ATF to honor my daughter Jaime and different victims of the Parkland taking pictures within the creation of the ‘Faces of Gun Violence’ memorial at headquarters. … We’re right here saddened by the truth that her photograph has been eliminated and sits in an ATF trash can, utterly disregarded by this heartless Administration who may clearly care much less about my youngster or any youngster being gunned down in America,” Guttenberg stated in an announcement.

The Justice Division did not reply a query from NPR asking the place the portraits at the moment are situated.

Brenda Joiner joined the Brady workforce after her father’s loss of life. She has made ending gun violence her life’s work.

“I am unable to convey my dad again, however I darn effectively can do some good combating for different folks, and that is what that wall meant for me,” she stated.