PRESS RELEASE: Truce Declared launches its violence intervention program in Oakland on Silence The Violence Day, August 5, 2009.

June 22, 2009

Contact: Gig Hitao

Director of Data Trends and the Truce Declared program

(707) 758-8550

www.trucedeclared.com

A violence intervention program, tested in Sonoma County for over 2 years, is launching its program in Oakland by participating in "Silence The Violence Day" organized by Urban Peace Movement. As one of many Morning Visibility Action Events planned in cities across the USA on August 5, 2009, the Truce Declared program, will have signs and literature on display from 8 am to 1 pm on the corner of Oak Street and 12^th Street in Oakland. In addition to signs announcing Silence The Violence Day and Urban Peace Movement, there will be signs with the messages of Truce Declared, which are "Don’t Carry Weapons," "Leave Your Weapons At Home" and "Honor the Truce."

The purpose of Truce Declared is to reduce spontaneous incidents of violence with weapons by negotiating a truce between rival gang members and by publicizing the concept using social marketing methods. Additional goals of the Truce are to stop drive-by shootings and revenge killings.

Truce Declared, which is implemented by the social research firm Data Trends, has contacted and begun exploring collaborations with Youth Uprising and the Ella Baker Center, two organizations in Oakland whose missions are compatible with Truce Declared.

For more information about Silence The Violence Day, see www.urbanpeacemovement.org.