I started our conversation asking Andrea about her upbringing and its impact on her becoming an activist. <\/strong>\u201cWhen you are born…into a community that is severely impacted by systems of violence, you are an activist in your own right by existing, you are like an act of resistance<\/em>…Once I started really recognizing who I was, I realized that I needed to be present in these spaces for my ancestors for my family\/people that I love.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n …I\u2019m representing Latinos…Queer folks… young people and so I am really passionate about being an activist and making sure that our voices are being heard. Whenever someone asks me what I want to do when I grow up, I say I want to be a great grandmother. Because I wanna see generations feeling safe <\/strong>and loved <\/strong>and protected<\/strong>…\u201cI am really grateful that I\u2019m able to be an activist in this moment and continue that connection that intergenerational baton-passing<\/strong> between generations…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing Andrea speak about the importance of making an impact so that future generations can keep the movement alive made me realize how vital it is to consider the next generations when carrying out our work. It\u2019s amazing that Andrea is making an effort to help inspire youth so that they can carry on the work. I then asked about the first time she demonstrated leadership and engaged in activism. <\/strong>. Her response resonated with me. \u201c<\/em><\/strong>Leadership appears in so many different ways, there is no one way of looking like a leader\u201d<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She continued: \u201cWhen I was in my sophomore year, my friend and I created a photography series for a class project and wrote on my back, \u201cNo means no\u201d, \u201cMy body My rules\u201d, \u201cThis does not mean yes\u201d.<\/strong> The project was talking about rape culture<\/strong> & dress codes<\/strong> and how like they\u2019re really discriminatory <\/strong>towards girls and gender conforming folks<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cwas super proud of myself but the school deemed it as \u201cpornographic\u201d<\/strong>. But, I was going to make sure this photo got back up and so…I made a petition, I started going on the news, I was like, f*ck the school<\/strong>…I\u2019m gonna do it and I like we got 3000 signatures<\/strong>. We were on three news stations<\/strong>. I come from Staten Island so the community there is really tight so word spread out fast. Unfortunately, the photos didn\u2019t ever go back up in school…but the photos got up in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in Capitol Hill in DC.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The first time I really was a leader was when I was organizing <\/strong>my community members and friends to sign\/share petitions…It became a mini movement<\/strong> to advocate <\/strong>for young women to dress however they wanted…and that was the beginning of my gender justice<\/strong> work.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Listening to Andrea, I thought how amazing it was that she had learned how to get involved and advocate for herself and others at such a young age even though she was not yet \u201cin the front\u201d of a movement, I shared an early memory of mine as a child when my parents took my family to a march in DC for the lives of those living in Kashmir<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, I watched the marches<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, speeches<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, and signs <\/u><\/strong><\/a>made by many and how much it meant to them. Andrea responded \u201c…<\/em>That’s so<\/em> important for a young person…to witness a community on the other side of the world that he\/she is fighting<\/em> for<\/em><\/strong> and want them to know that he\/she<\/em> loves and protects them<\/em><\/strong>…\u201d<\/em>. At that march, I learned to believe in the power of solidarity in the fight to make the world a better place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrea related to my story and told me that when she was little <\/strong>her father would tell her stories about the Afghanistan and Iran War, though she was too young to understand. \u201cI wanted to learn more because it’s important to think about the way <\/em>capitalism and the government destroys<\/em><\/strong> Black and Brown folks<\/em><\/strong>…young people see that…it’s <\/em>important to have<\/em><\/strong>adults guiding them<\/em><\/strong>, making sure they…move past this moment and actually <\/em>turn it into action<\/em><\/strong>\u201d<\/em>.<\/em> My father, just like hers, did the same thing. He inspired me to research and connect to the common enduring issues that exist. Having a family who supports and inspires you can help shape you into an outstanding leader and activist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrea continued our discussion on the impact of our fathers’ storytelling \u201cIt\u2019s important to have activists present in telling their story…narratives are so important<\/strong>…when we reclaim the narrative<\/strong>…the possibilities are truly endless<\/strong>. You get to inspire a whole generation<\/strong> of people…like my ancestors did the same thing…I\u2019m continuing that work<\/strong> for them\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We picked up on the discussion relating to the government\u2019s perception of POCs and their association of them with guns\/violence<\/strong>. \u201cFolks like to <\/em>blame the person who looks different<\/em><\/strong> for everything….there’s a systematic issue with policing that was rooted in slave patrols…and folks really want to blame Black folks for getting killed by the police<\/em>...We\u2019re talking about the fact that people who want to hurt others have access to guns, <\/em>we need to make sure that we have systems in place that stop the cycle of violence<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n People have been systematically disenfranchised<\/em><\/strong>. They don’t have jobs, access to healthy education\/foods, or a safe relationship with the government…<\/em>Gun violence is the end result of a really big web of issues<\/em><\/strong> when we have racism, transphobia, homophobia, xenobia you have gun violence…It’s important to <\/em>redirect that conversation<\/em><\/strong>…and make sure that <\/em>everyone has access to what they need<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So it\u2019s really important that young people across the country are advocating for the true telling of stories<\/strong>…and reshifting the narrative<\/strong> the media…tries to put on us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I then asked her how her identity impacted her as an activist<\/strong>\u201cThe identity that I carry, all carry privileges and oppressions within them\u201d<\/em><\/strong>. I thought that was such an interesting point; how we can use our privileges to help others and be allies but also use our struggles to contribute to movements trying to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Being a WOC is very dangerous. But also understanding that I’m not Black and Black folks have to experience anti-blackness. And so I use my privilege to advocate for Black lives<\/strong>. In regards to my queerness, I am really grateful that I’m now becoming more open about my sexuality…People can’t recognize that I am Queer and that’s a privilege in itself…with that, I am a defender of Queer lives<\/strong>…I advocate for Trans lives<\/strong>. The liberation of <\/u><\/strong><\/em>Black Trans <\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>folks, (we have liberation of everyone.) <\/u><\/strong>..That’s what I do with my activism, recognizing my oppressions but using that to privilege others and making sure that they\u2019re being uplifted <\/strong>and being protected<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Privilege is a big thing that everyone carries but most fail to see and use to help others. This made me think about how celebrities often misuse their abundant privilege in the moments that are needed such as with Black Lives Matter<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, because they are afraid of losing support. BLM was treated as a trend with celebs jumping on the bandwagon posting a black square, instead of starting a serious discussion or sharing resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrea shared the same frustrations, \u201cLike what the f*ck is that?<\/strong> We have work to be done, there\u2019s so many activist influencers..that just show up when it’s convenient. They\u2019re good with words, but they don’t show up when it’s time to protest…donate…and give resources.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You have all this platform…what are you gonna do with that? Like where were you?…I went to the party in Washington Square park to celebrate Joe Biden winning. It was frustrating because most of these white folks, were out here popping bottles, dancing and singing. Where were they when we were getting pepper sprayed? When we were getting arrested? When we were protesting for <\/strong><\/em>George Floyd<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, <\/strong><\/em>Breonna Taylor<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, <\/strong><\/em>Tony Mcdade<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We need to be uncomfortable<\/em><\/strong>…We all have a role in building that future…everyone has a conversation that needs to be had, everyone has one a racist family member- <\/em>call them out!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Honestly celebrities, they\u2019re not gonna be our saviours<\/strong>…there are no saviours<\/strong>, we are all collectively helping each other<\/strong>…Either celebrities get on board or are gonna be kicked off the train<\/strong> because we’re gonna build something that’s more…We need to…understand that your liberation is my liberation and my liberation is yours<\/strong>…we are building a collective circle<\/strong> to make a safer world<\/strong> for everyone\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I asked Andrea about the impetus for the creation of Youth Over Guns and its successes. <\/strong>\u201c<\/em>Zarina<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a> and <\/em>Luis <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a>are the co-founders I started working with and the reason why we continue to put so much love and passion into this work is because we see the way that the media like <\/em>white rich folks often the ones who command that conversation about gun violence<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n …less than 1% of our gun violence is mass shootings<\/strong> and the whole other 99% is community violence<\/strong>…people who are most impacted<\/strong> by gun violence should be leading these conversations<\/strong> and presenting the solutions<\/strong>…We’re gonna end gun violence by getting rid of cops & metal detectors<\/strong>…and instead making sure we have restorative justice programs in our schools<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We are taking a holistic approach<\/strong>…making sustainable changes<\/strong>…a safe <\/strong>community and not the illusion of safety<\/strong>. We\u2019re trying…to make sure we center Black lives<\/strong> in our conversations…that\u2019s what we do at Youth Over Guns, we make sure that we are talking about all of those things and how they relate to gun violence.\u201d<\/em> Left<\/strong>: Speaker Nancy Pelosi<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, Center<\/strong>: Andrea Gonzales, Right<\/strong>: Gov. Andrew Cuomo<\/u><\/strong><\/a> at the signing of ERPO<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of Youth Over Guns\u2019 great successes was the passing of the Red Flag law<\/u><\/strong><\/a>, also known as ERPO<\/u><\/strong><\/a>. It is triggered \u201cwhen a person may be dangerous to themselves or others…prohibits<\/strong>a person from purchasing or possessing guns and requires the person to surrender <\/strong>any guns they already own or possess\u201d.\u201cThere are warning signs before someone commits a mass shooting. And so we\u2019re really happy after years and years of work alongside…<\/em>New Yorkers Against Gun Violence<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, <\/strong><\/em>LIFE Camp<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, all these amazing New York centered organizations, we learn from them and they’ve been advocating for the longest time…Statistically when you fund violence interruption programs like LIFE Camp, <\/strong><\/em>Save Our Streets<\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/a>, <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n