Aswad Thomas

From day one, the Alliance for Safety and Justice has committed itself to creating tangible changes inside of the world of criminal justice, growing into an organization known for building shared safety, reducing incarceration and offering invaluable support to survivors of violence. With its Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) network, thousands of survivors from across the country have worked tirelessly to share their stories and empower other victims of violent crimes. All the while, they’ve worked together to create an impact on a national scale by advocating for legislation in statehouses across the country and lifting up other solutions to address trauma and violence in the most harmed communities. Through the newly launched National Crime Victims Agenda, the group has worked to redefine just what it means to transition from victim to survivor — a difficult journey for anyone who has previously encountered or been touched by violence or loss.

For people wondering about community safety alternatives amid calls to defund and abolish the police, Aswad Thomas has an answer: listen to the victims. He was 26 and weeks away from leaving the United States to play basketball professionally in Europe when gun violence ended his career and almost ended his life. He realized that victims of crime like himself rarely get the resources for emotional, physical, or financial recovery, and this was true for his assailant, who lost an eye from a shooting.

Aswad Thomas’ dream of pursuing a career in basketball was disrupted about a decade ago when he was shot twice in the back during an attempted armed robbery in Connecticut. In the following years, Thomas—like many other victims of violent crime—didn’t know that Congress had set aside money and resources for his recovery decades ago.

Seven years ago, I was shot. Twice.In 1988, my family moved to Highland Park in Detroit. I grew up on Geneva Street, one of the most vibrant spots in the neighborhood for reasons both good and bad. There were the friendly games of bike-tag — but also constant drug-dealing and shootings. I lived in a single-parent home along with my four brothers. I was the youngest, and watched as the people around me succumbed to violence, prison, or both.