Mayor, council and survivors mark National Gun Violence Awareness Day and highlight Restore program

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin opened the Birmingham City Council meeting on June 2 by urging residents to support local efforts to protect vulnerable people from extreme heat and announced a three-day community water drive for shelters and cooling stations and a municipal court amnesty month running June 1–30.

The mayor then read a proclamation declaring June 2 National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Birmingham and praised local violence-reduction partnerships, including hospital-linked intervention work and community-based credible messengers. "Every case donated represents more than a beverage," Woodfin said, urging residents to support relief efforts and community organizations.

Councilor Pro Tem Tanya Tate introduced representatives of Restore and several partner organizations and survivors who described services that connect people at the hospital bedside with sustained casework. The Jefferson County health officer said the Board of Health plans to provide additional funding to maintain the city’s violence-reduction momentum; the officer noted an agreement for more funds is forthcoming.

An OAA representative described the hospital violence-intervention program’s results: "We have served over 285 survivors, stabilized 755 families and provided 5,880 services," the speaker said, adding that the program has documented no retaliations among served clients. Survivors and intervention staff said the program’s combination of hospital response, credible messengers and long-term follow-up helps clients regain stability and, in some cases, enter paid intervention roles.

Timothy Lendell, a violence-intervention professional, and a client who identified himself as Jonathan Parker described individual recoveries and the long-term relationships formed through the program. Parker told the council, "The comeback is greater than a setback," and credited the intervention staff with helping him rebuild his life.

Why it matters: Councilors and the mayor framed the recognition as both a memorial and a call to continued investment. Officials pointed to a decline in reported homicides so far in 2026 compared with recent years while stressing that even one life lost to gun violence is unacceptable. The city is publicizing local programs and asking residents, faith organizations and businesses to support services and donations to shelters and cooling stations.

The council did not take formal legislative action in the recognition but used the occasion to highlight ongoing partnerships and planned funding steps from county health leadership. The meeting then moved to other agenda items, including presentations and ordinance votes.