~ The Boston City Council is recognizing Nov. 20 through Dec. 20, 2026, as National Survivors of Homicide Victims Awareness Month in the city, honoring people, families and communities affected by homicide.

The resolution also supports establishing a national awareness month at the federal level to increase awareness and promote access to services for survivors.

The resolution describes gun violence as a national public health crisis and says about 20,000 homicides occur in the United States each year. It estimates that at least 10 family members are affected by each homicide, resulting in about 200,000 new survivors annually. Those affected can include relatives, friends, neighbors, classmates, colleagues and entire communities.

Citing figures in the resolution, the council said homicide is the leading cause of death among Black Americans ages 12 to 19 and the second-leading cause among teenagers nationwide. Nearly one in four Black and Latino adults report losing a loved one to gun-related homicide, while more than half of women who are homicide victims are killed as a result of intimate partner violence.

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The resolution calls for compassionate, coordinated and consistent support for surviving family members, both immediately after a homicide and in the months and years that follow. It also emphasizes families' ability to remember and honor those they have lost, regardless of the circumstances of their deaths.

The council recognized survivors who draw on their experiences to inform public policy and advocate for safer communities. It said survivors, advocates and service providers are working together on equitable, effective community-based responses to homicide.

The resolution also highlights the role of surviving family and community members in disrupting cycles of violence, addressing trauma and promoting healing and peace.

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