Operation SNUG gets support from Albany
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NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — “You can no longer be quiet. We must speak out against this type of behavior,” said the Reverend Jimmie Seright.
Speaking out against gun violence has been the primary mission of Seright, the Niagara County Operation SNUG coordinator, for the past two years. Now, he's receiving some major support from Governor Andrew Cuomo.
“I really do believe the governor is seeing now what SNUG is doing all throughout New York State, and I believe he's come into awareness that SNUG is necessary,” Seright said.
Saturday, Cuomo announced Niagara County's "SNUG" program will split $700,000 with four other communities statewide as part of a new initiative to cut back on gun violence. Cuomo says the initiative will include the launch of a new advertising campaign, a toll-free weapons tip line, and the support of community based programs.
“When the state is behind you, that means they recognize that there is a need for the gun violence to be addressed, so when you got the government involved, it’s very important,” said Xavier Walker of Operation SNUG.
SNUG, or guns spelled backwards, is a state sponsored anti-violence group designed to mentor youth in high crime areas. Ten SNUG programs have been implemented statewide.
“We used to be out there doing some of the things these young guys are doing, but we had the chance to turn out lives around, so we want to show them by example that if we can do it, they can do it,” said Michael Cole of Operation SNUG.
SNUG leaders are in halfway houses. They're in courtrooms. They respond to shootings along with clergy, rallying the city against violence; but leaders say the key is to start conversations in the classrooms.
“We want to see our kids grow up. We want to see them get the education that they need. We just want to be a part of that because our passion is to help our community and to help our kids,” said Cole.
With this money, they're hoping to continue to make a difference.
“We need to be there. That's the basic thing. We need to be there, because they will call us before they call police, and then we'll do what's necessary.”