By DIANE WILLIAMS

Harlem Mothers SAVE, founded by Local 299 President Jackie Rowe-Adams, marked its 10^th anniversary in Harlem on Nov. 10. The anti-gun violence support group honored the newly appointed New York Police Dept. Commissioner James P. O’Neill.

“The packed room was a sea of blue, we had so much support from the NYPD, who stand with us on getting guns off our streets,” said Rowe-Adams, who founded the nonprofit organization after she lost two young sons in two separate acts of gun violence.

Harlem Mothers SAVE provides counseling, education and victim services; their professionally-trained first responders are called upon to help grieving parents of shooting victims in New York City. They support Sandy Hook School shooting victims killed in Connecticut four years ago.

Feisty and undaunted, Rowe–Adams challenges the National Rifle Association “to consider how many children and teens get shot each year–over 14,700 on average and 111,000 adults in America. The NRA needs to reconsider their pro-gun position.” In an incident covered by the New York Daily News, Rowe-Adams confronted National Rifle Association‘s CEO Wayne LaPierre at the group’s convention in 2013.

“I am so grateful that for these many years DC 37, Assembly member Keith Wright and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and others have supported us, donated meeting space and are an impetus for us to keep doing what we do to save our youth and help grieving parents,” Rowe-Adams said.

To donate and learn more, visit www.harlemmotherssave.org.