Fresno’s Advance Peace program, credited with a significant decrease in gun violence, has unexpectedly lost its crucial $2 million federal grant from the Department of Justice, effective immediately. Interim CEO Brian Angus of Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission announced the abrupt termination, which puts at risk the program’s impactful strategies aimed at breaking the cycle of retaliatory violence in urban neighborhoods.
Initially awarded in 2023, this funding was instrumental in expanding violence reduction efforts, leading to a reported 35.6% reduction in shootings in Southwest Fresno during the previous year. Community advocates now express their worry over the potential resurgence of violence in a city that has benefitted from these initiatives, stressing the need to continue operations despite diminished resources.
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