Shannon Watts

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

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

Early life and education

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

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

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

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

Since starting Moms Demand Action, Watts has lived in Indiana, Colorado and California. She and her husband now live in the Bay Area. 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
  • 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
  1. "NRA: From power broker to broken? Gun safety activists see opportunity in NRA's downfall". MSNBC.com. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  2. Chozick, Amy (2019-06-06). "Shannon Watts's Work Diary: The Demanding Job of Running 'Moms Demand Action'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  3. Slatinska, Nikol (2020-12-16). "Bay Area Mom Shannon Watts Started An Activist Revolution From Home". sanfran.com. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  4. "Joe Biden announces first steps to curb 'epidemic' of US gun violence". the Guardian. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  5. "'They led the effort.' Biden praises Parkland, Pulse advocates for gun-control push". Miami Herald.
  6. Klar, Rebecca (2020-03-09). "Biden picks up endorsement from Everytown for Gun Safety". TheHill. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  7. "Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts Joins Emerge America National Board". Emerge. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  8. "Our Leadership". Advance Peace. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  9. "https://twitter.com/UrbanPeaceInst/status/1655643947212103681". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-05-30. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  10. Danielsen, Aarik (2022-02-14). "How MU grad, Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts tells a different story about gun violence". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  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. 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  13. "Activist Shannon Watts on Mass Shooting In Boulder, Fighting Gun Violence | KCM". Katie Couric Media. 2021-03-12. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  14. DiPerna, Jody (2019-08-02). "National gun-control advocate Shannon Watts says it's time to 'Fight Like a Mother'". Pittsburgh Current. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  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. 19 December 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 2022-12-12.
  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 2021-05-18.
  18. Buchanan, Tyler (2020-03-11). "Biden highlights need for gun violence prevention in Columbus campaign stop". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  19. "Pathways to Purpose Speaker Series This Spring". 7 February 2019.
  20. "'What change looks like': Boulder chapter of Moms Demand Action meets as numbers grow around U.S." 27 February 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 2023-01-21.
  22. "I'm the Woman Who Called Out United and I'm Sick of Sexism". Time. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  23. Guardian Staff (2017-03-26). "United Airlines defends gate decision to bar girls wearing leggings from flight". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  24. Stack, Liam (2017-03-26). "After Barring Girls for Leggings, United Airlines Defends Decision". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  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 2021-07-09.
  27. "United responds to critics after barring 2 teens for leggings". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  28. Cramer, Alex (2019-06-11). "Gun Control Activist Shannon Watts Teaches Women How to Fight Like a Mother". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  29. "Fight like a Mother". Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  30. "How a Colorado mother went from starting a Facebook group to identifying as the National Rifle Association's worst nightmare". The Denver Post. 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  31. "Boulder mom, one of 'NRA's worst nightmares,' tackling gun violence with book, advocacy group". Boulder Daily Camera. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  32. "Creative Council". Everytown Support Fund. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  33. Jeltsen, Melissa (2019-06-06). "How One Of The NRA's Biggest Foes Found Her Voice". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  34. Watts, Shannon (2019-02-11). "The gun reform movement is stronger than ever. And now we're winning". Newsweek. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  35. "NRA: From power broker to broken? Gun safety activists see opportunity in NRA's downfall". MSNBC.com. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
  36. Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, on "The Takeout" — 10/18/19, retrieved 2021-07-11
  37. Watts, Shannon (19 December 2018), Moms Demand Action, retrieved 2021-07-11
  38. "I'm Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and This Is How I Parent". Offspring. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  39. "How One Mom Has Taken Gun Safety Into Her Own Hands". InStyle. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  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 2021-05-22.
  41. "Shannon Watts". YBCA. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  42. "Griffiths Leadership Society Spring 2019 conference" (PDF). mizzou.com. p. 3.
  43. "Peacemaker Awards". Houston Peace & Justice Center. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  44. "Activist Shannon Watts Urges a 'Safety Net of Solutions' to Prevent Gun Violence". Teachers College - Columbia University. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  45. "Six to receive honorary degrees from Washington University | The Source | Washington University in St. Louis". The Source. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  46. "In the Battle Against Gun Violence, Shannon Watts Fights Like a Mother". Glamour. 2022-10-25. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  47. "PWS Changemakers 2022". 2022-12-11. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  48. "Shannon Watts: The 100 Most Influential People of 2023". Time. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
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