Help Us reduce gun violence through violence interruption
Hotline Calls Since Inception: 4,377
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Call Investigations Since Inception: 620
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Interruptions of Potential Gun Violence Since Inception: 246
Hotline Calls Since Inception: 4,377 | Call Investigations Since Inception: 620 | Interruptions of Potential Gun Violence Since Inception: 246
Basic
Donations are needed to help B.U.C.K. Squad support the reduction of gun violence in Charlottesville.
Intermediate
If you need help with de-escalating a conflict, contact a violence interrupter now.
The B.U.C.K. Squad
After experiencing the loss of a close friend at the hands of gun violence, members of the B.U.C.K. Squad and other community members decided that enough was enough. The B.U.C.K. Squad was formed to take accountability in their own community to stop the violence. The collective group decided to take personal action to address conflicts before they escalated to gun violence in Charlottesville, and the community responded positively to their approach.
The B.U.C.K. Squad then appealed to community members and city officials to invest in professional training and development for the group to become certified “Violence Interrupters” and outreach workers. The need for such a training was highlighted recently when one B.U.C.K. Squad member had a gun pulled on him during a conflict resolution.
In early February 2021, Charlottesville City Council unanimously voted to donate $20,480 to [the team] for a four-day training for B.U.C.K. Squad members. Mayor Nikuyah Walker recognized that the organization had also raised $16,000 for the training from other sources.
The group organizes weekly patrols as they canvass high-risk neighborhoods to assist in de-escalating any potentially violent situations, with only street-knowledge and the city-sponsored training to provide tools to effectively commit to this work. From their efforts alone, in the last six months since the group was formed, violence in these high-risk communities has significantly decreased.
Executive Director, Herb Dickerson - Hard at work doing a pitch for a grant for the B.U.C.K. Squad.
NBC 29 News reports on new data on Gun-related injuries, violent crimes decreasing in central VA, amongst a growing trend statewide
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Herb DIckerson - Executive Director
Herb details the underlying reasons we see violence erupt in our communities and that it’s not isolated to one demographic.
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Bryan Page - Asst Exec Director
Bryan talks about the importance of relationships with the community in order to prevent crimes from happening.
Local violence prevention groups host national gun violence awareness day event
Cville Mayor declares it National Gun Violence Awareness Day in Charlottesville, VA. B.U.C.K. Squad + Moms Demand Action + Cville Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention take a stand to end gun violence in Charlottesville.
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We Made the list of 2022 Movers And Shakers!
June 29, 2022 - C-Ville Weekly released their annual look at Charlottesville’s “movers and shakers” and we’re on the list!
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In the News
“These folks put their lives on the line. We’ll be out at 12, 1, 2, 3 in the morning. While y’all sleep in peace, we’re out here struggling, trying to find out who’s going to get at who.”
CONTACT A VIOLENCE INTERRUPTER – HOTLINE
CALL THE B.U.C.K. Squad hotline by selecting the button below or dialing (434) 365- 4187 if you need help with de-escalating a conflict. AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.
DONATE TO B.U.C.K. SQUAD
Donations are needed to help B.U.C.K. Squad support the reduction of gun violence in Charlottesville. Current priorities include:
Professionally-guided training for community members who are volunteering to be a part of reducing violence in Charlottesville.
Developing community programs to help keep violence down and stop the cycle of recurring violence.
Testimonials
UVA Law School Students After B.U.C.K. Squad Members Visit their Constitutional Law Class“I just wanted to thank you for having invited the B.U.C.K Squad to speak with us today. Our lesson was by far the best class I have had as a UVA Law student. I am grateful to B.U.C.K for having taken the time to share their important work with us, and I hope future UVA Law students will have the pleasure of hearing from them, too. Thank you, again, for having arranged the presentation.”
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“I wanted to thank you for bringing in the BUCK Squad to speak with our class today. Their work sounds incredibly inspiring, and it's hard to put in words how much I appreciate their willingness to come and share everything they did. It was easily one of the most, if not the single most, valuable and refreshing days in law school I've ever had.”
