Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Lin Manuel-Miranda Join Movement Calling for Tougher Gun Laws
Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Selena Gomez are among a group of more than 200 Latino celebrities who have joined a social media campaign urging Congress to enact tougher gun control measures.
Longtime anti-gun violence advocate Prince Royce recently posted a photo on Instagram under the hashtag #DISARMHATE bearing the names and signatures of all the Latino artists now in support of the movement.
Campaign Follows one of Worse Mass Shooting in U.S. History
The move comes just days after 49 people were gunned down at a gay Orlando nightclub in one of the worse mass shootings in U.S. history. Another 53 people were also injured.
All the senseless violence has also sparked a historic sit-in by Democratic members of congress now calling for stricter legislation on the issue. Among the proposals is a bill prohibiting militants on the "no-fly" list from purchasing firearms and a measure that would expand background checks.
Led by civil-rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., Democrats seized the floor in raising their voices and demanding a vote on a number of gun legislation proposals.
Latino Lawmakers Demanding Vote
Central to the congressional movement were Latino lawmakers Joaquin Castro Tony Cardenas, representatives from Texas and California respectively.
"If you are here representing Americans in Congress, you signed up to take tough votes," Castro said. "If you believe terrorists should be able to own guns then put your name to that vote. If you believe that we shouldn't have background checks then put your name to that vote."
In painfully recalling how one of his childhood friends was once shot, Cardenas added, "I will not relent. I will not allow another 20 years to go by so that my grandson would ever, ever say, 'Grandpa, why, why did my friend die?"
Authorities have identified Omar Mateen as the gunmen in the Orlando club shooting and investigators have indicated he had a history of expressing anti-gay sentiments.
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