Shannon Watts

Not to be confused with Shanann Watts.
Shannon Watts
Watts in 2023
Born (1971-01-01) January 1, 1971 (age 53)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
OccupationUniversity of Missouri (BA)
Known forFounder of Moms Demand Action
WebsiteOfficial website

Shannon Watts (born January 1, 1971)[1] is an American gun violence prevention activist[2] and the founder of Moms Demand Action.[3][4][5][6] Watts has campaigned for a number of gun control candidates across the country, including President Joe Biden.[7] In 2016, Watts became a board member of Emerge America.[8] Watts also serves on the board of Advance Peace.[9]

Early life and education

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Watts was born in Rochester, New York, and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1994.[10] After college, she worked in the Missouri House of Representatives and for former Governor Mel Carnahan. Watts then built a career as a communications executive, including FleishmanHillard, Monsanto, GE Healthcare and WellPoint.[11] In 2008, she left her corporate career to focus on her family.[12]

Moms Demand Action

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On December 14, 2012, a gunman had opened fire in Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut, killing 26 children and educators. The next day, Watts started a Facebook group to unite women against the gun lobby in the way Mothers Against Drunk Driving had united mothers against the alcohol lobby in the 1980s. The Facebook page grew into a grassroots movement after volunteers contacted Watts about forming Moms Demand Action chapters in their own communities. Moms Demand Action now has chapters in every state and over 6 million supporters nationwide.[13][14] For over eight years, Moms Demand Action volunteers have stopped the NRA’s priority legislation in statehouses more than 90 percent of the time, and helped pass hundreds of gun safety laws across the country, changed corporate policies, and educated Americans about secure gun storage.[15] In the 2022 election, 140 Moms Demand Action volunteers were elected to public office.[16]

Volunteers wear red t-shirts emblazoned with the Moms Demand Action logo to show their support and stand out at legislative hearings, protests and other events. In 2013, Moms Demand Action and Mayors Against Illegal Guns joined forces to become Everytown for Gun Safety.[17] In March 2020, Watts campaigned with presidential candidate Joe Biden in Ohio.[18] Watts has given speeches at places such as Valparaiso University and Mountain Calvary Lutheran Church.[19][20] Watts announced that she will be stepping back from her leadership role at Moms Demand Action at the end of 2023.[21]

United Airlines

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In 2017, Watts spoke out against United Airlines on Twitter after witnessing an agent deny boarding to two teenage girls wearing leggings in Denver International Airport.[22][23][24] Watts added that the girls' father was allowed to board without incident, despite wearing shorts. United later stated that the two teenagers were pass riders under the airline's company travel perk program who were subject to a stricter dress code, whereas leggings or yoga pants are acceptable for regular passengers.[25][26][27]

Writing

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Watts is the author of the 2019 book Fight Like a Mother: How a Grassroots Movement Took on the Gun Lobby and Why Women Will Change the World.[28][29][30] The book’s foreword was written by actress Julianne Moore,[31] who is also the founding chair of the Everytown Creative Council.[32] Watts also blogs on Medium about her work and the victories achieved by Moms Demand Action volunteers.

Watts is also active on Twitter,[33] where she has more than 500,000 followers. She has also appeared as a commentator on MSNBC, CNN, CBS and NPR and written opinion pieces for Elle, Refinery29, Time.com, Newsweek[34][35][36] and Marie Claire, among others.[37]

Personal life

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Since starting Moms Demand Action, Watts has lived in Indiana, Colorado and California. She is the mother of five children. In her book, Watts wrote that she was enrolled in a yoga teacher training course when she founded Moms Demand Action. She is a Buddhist who practices yoga and meditates at least once a day.[38]

Awards and recognition

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  • 2008: PRWeek’s 40 Under 40
  • 2014: People Magazine's 15 Women Changing the World Right Now
  • 2018: Bloomberg Philanthropies, award in recognition for work to reduce gun violence
  • 2018: Instyle, Badass Woman[39]
  • 2018: People Magazine, 25 Women Changing the World[40]
  • 2018: YBCA 100 Honoree, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco[41]
  • 2019: University of Missouri Griffiths Leadership Society “Spirit of Martha” Award[42]
  • 2020: Peacemaker of the Year Award from the Houston Peace and Justice Center[43]
  • 2020: Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Medal for Distinguished Service[44]
  • 2021: Washington University in St. Louis, Honorary Doctorate of Humanities[45]
  • 2022: Glamour Women of the Year[46]
  • 2022: TheWrap Power Women Summit Changemakers of the Year[47]
  • 2023: TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World[48]

References

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  1. ^ Watts, Shannon [@shannonrwatts] (January 1, 2023). "Thanks for the birthday wishes! Ringing in the new year and age 52" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "NRA: From power broker to broken? Gun safety activists see opportunity in NRA's downfall". MSNBC.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Chozick, Amy (June 6, 2019). "Shannon Watts's Work Diary: The Demanding Job of Running 'Moms Demand Action'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Slatinska, Nikol (December 16, 2020). "Bay Area Mom Shannon Watts Started An Activist Revolution From Home". sanfran.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Joe Biden announces first steps to curb 'epidemic' of US gun violence". the Guardian. April 8, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "'They led the effort.' Biden praises Parkland, Pulse advocates for gun-control push". Miami Herald.
  7. ^ Klar, Rebecca (March 9, 2020). "Biden picks up endorsement from Everytown for Gun Safety". TheHill. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts Joins Emerge America National Board". Emerge. April 20, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Our Leadership". Advance Peace. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  10. ^ Danielsen, Aarik (February 14, 2022). "How MU grad, Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts tells a different story about gun violence". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Wemple, Erik (June 23, 2016). "NPR issues large correction about stay-at-home mom/gun-control activist". The Washington Post.
  12. ^ "Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts heads to Marin". Marin Independent Journal. December 2, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "Activist Shannon Watts on Mass Shooting In Boulder, Fighting Gun Violence | KCM". Katie Couric Media. March 12, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  14. ^ DiPerna, Jody (August 2, 2019). "National gun-control advocate Shannon Watts says it's time to 'Fight Like a Mother'". Pittsburgh Current. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action to Join Forces, Unite a National Movement to Protect Communities and Save Lives". Moms Demand Action. December 19, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  16. ^ "She founded Moms Demand Action for gun reform. 140 of its volunteers won office". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "New Gun Violence Prevention Group "Everytown for Gun Safety" Unites Mayors, Moms and Millions of Americans on New Paths to Victory: State Capitols, Corporate Responsibility, Voter Activation". Everytown. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  18. ^ Buchanan, Tyler (March 11, 2020). "Biden highlights need for gun violence prevention in Columbus campaign stop". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  19. ^ "Pathways to Purpose Speaker Series This Spring". February 7, 2019.
  20. ^ "'What change looks like': Boulder chapter of Moms Demand Action meets as numbers grow around U.S." February 27, 2018.
  21. ^ "Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts, who took on the NRA, to retire from group she created". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  22. ^ "I'm the Woman Who Called Out United and I'm Sick of Sexism". Time. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Guardian Staff (March 26, 2017). "United Airlines defends gate decision to bar girls wearing leggings from flight". the Guardian. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  24. ^ Stack, Liam (March 26, 2017). "After Barring Girls for Leggings, United Airlines Defends Decision". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  25. ^ Disis, Jill; Ostrower, Jon (March 27, 2017). "United Airlines in Twitter trouble over leggings rule". CNN Money.
  26. ^ Binkowski, Brooke. "Passengers Denied Boarding for Wearing Leggings on United Airlines Flight?". Snopes.com. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  27. ^ "United responds to critics after barring 2 teens for leggings". ABC News. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  28. ^ Cramer, Alex (June 11, 2019). "Gun Control Activist Shannon Watts Teaches Women How to Fight Like a Mother". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  29. ^ "Fight like a Mother". Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  30. ^ "How a Colorado mother went from starting a Facebook group to identifying as the National Rifle Association's worst nightmare". The Denver Post. June 9, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  31. ^ "Boulder mom, one of 'NRA's worst nightmares,' tackling gun violence with book, advocacy group". Boulder Daily Camera. June 7, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  32. ^ "Creative Council". Everytown Support Fund. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  33. ^ Jeltsen, Melissa (June 6, 2019). "How One Of The NRA's Biggest Foes Found Her Voice". HuffPost. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  34. ^ Watts, Shannon (February 11, 2019). "The gun reform movement is stronger than ever. And now we're winning". Newsweek. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  35. ^ "NRA: From power broker to broken? Gun safety activists see opportunity in NRA's downfall". MSNBC.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  36. ^ Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, on "The Takeout" — 10/18/19, retrieved July 11, 2021
  37. ^ Watts, Shannon (December 19, 2018), Moms Demand Action, retrieved July 11, 2021
  38. ^ "I'm Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and This Is How I Parent". Offspring. June 4, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  39. ^ "How One Mom Has Taken Gun Safety Into Her Own Hands". InStyle. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  40. ^ Tauber, Michelle (October 31, 2018). "Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts on Finding 'A Tribe of Women Who Will Hold You Up'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  41. ^ "Shannon Watts". YBCA. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  42. ^ "Griffiths Leadership Society Spring 2019 conference" (PDF). mizzou.com. p. 3.
  43. ^ "Peacemaker Awards". Houston Peace & Justice Center. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  44. ^ "Activist Shannon Watts Urges a 'Safety Net of Solutions' to Prevent Gun Violence". Teachers College - Columbia University. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  45. ^ "Six to receive honorary degrees from Washington University | The Source | Washington University in St. Louis". The Source. May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  46. ^ "In the Battle Against Gun Violence, Shannon Watts Fights Like a Mother". Glamour. October 25, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  47. ^ "PWS Changemakers 2022". December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  48. ^ "Shannon Watts: The 100 Most Influential People of 2023". Time. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
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