Silence Is Violence

Silence is Violence was formed in the wake of the murders of two local artists during a crime surge after Hurricane Katrina in late 2006 and early 2007. ²

One of Silence is Violence’s main initiatives is the “Victim Allies Project,” a collective of social workers who go to violent crime scenes to provide victims and their families with support, safe housing, and guidance through the criminal justice process. ³

Background

Silence is Violence was formed in the aftermath of the murders of musician Dinerral Shavers in December 2006 and filmmaker Helen Hill in January 2007 amid a surge in violent crime in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. ² Activists Ken Foster, Helen Gillet, and Baty Landis organized a march on City Hall to decry the violence and demand a response from city leadership who had allegedly been “silent.” Silence is Violence was founded in the wake of the March For Survival, which occurred on January 11, 2007, was attended by 5,000 people, and featured conversations about “hopes for a safer and more equitable city.” ¹

The group was previously known as the Social Aid and Pleasure Club Task Force. ⁴

Activities

One of Silence is Violence’s main initiatives is the Victim Allies Project, a collective of social workers who go to violent crime scenes to provide victims and their families with support, safe housing, and guidance through the criminal justice system. It claims that the various law courts and sheriff’s offices of the region depend on its work. ³

Other programs and services that Silence is Violence provides include what the group calls anti-violence peace walks, candlelight vigils, youth outreach fairs, and victim memorials. ³

Financials

In 2022, Silence is Violence reported revenue of $149,667, expenses of $194,995, and net assets of $4,407. ⁵

Funding

Silence is Violence has received funding from the Almar Foundation, Baptist Community Ministries, Civil Rights Corp, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, Foundation for Louisiana, Freeman-Woollam Foundation, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Keller Family Foundation, the Department of Justice, and the RosaMary Foundation. ^{6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14}

Leadership

As of April 2024, Tamara Jackson was Silence is Violence’s executive director. Jackson joined the group in 2009 as a victims’ services volunteer. She was appointed executive director in 2011. She is a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team in New Orleans and worked for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Office of Mental Health for 17 years. ⁴

As of 2022, the organization’s board members included Stella Baty Landis, Maureen Loughran, Stephanie Minto-Gibson, and president Olivia Woollam. ^{15 14}