Snoop Dogg and Ron Conway Declare #ImUnloading Against Gun Violence with Unload Your 401k Divestment Movement

NEW YORK, March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In a partnership between Unload Your 401k and anti-gun violence campaign, No Guns Allowed, entertainment icon Snoop Dogg and tech leader Ron Conway are joining forces to call for divestment from the gun industry. Through the surprising union, they are using #ImUnloading in a new PSA to turn their pledge into reality, joined by athletes Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks and Matt Barnes of the Los Angeles Clippers; actress/singer Margot Bingham; singer/songwriter/producer Aloe Blacc; singer/songwriter Jhene Aiko; and League Of Young Voters' Executive Director, Dr. Rob Biko Baker.

Gun Violence is an epidemic, with 20 children every day admitted to hospitals with gunshot wounds.  In an effort to create change, Conway is calling on the C-Suite of tech companies to offer socially-responsible, "no guns allowed" investment options, and Snoop Dogg is enlisting the support of the entertainment industry and his fans to declare #ImUnloading in the name of those touched by the tragedy of gun violence.

"I'm unloading for my loved ones that I've lost," Snoop Dogg said. "I'm going all in for gun free investing."

"Every American is at risk of gun violence, but we all can also be part of the solution," Conway said. "I am reaching out to my entire network to encourage companies of every size to divest their retirement portfolios from the gun industry."

The PSA, from Campaign to Unload and States United to Prevent Gun Violence, is the second installment of support for Unload Your 401k, a program designed to raise awareness of divestment as a unique and powerful strategy to help make a meaningful change in preventing gun violence.

"There is a straight line from gun industry investment, to gun industry profits, to funding of the NRA. Half the value of these companies comes from mutual funds and most of the 'investors' in these funds have no idea they are inadvertently part of the problem. Now they can be part of the solution," said Jennifer Fiore, executive director of Campaign to Unload.

"Greedy gun corporations are benefitting from the pain in our community," said Baker. "It's important that we vote with our money."

UnloadYour401k.com offers visitors an easy way to look-up their 401k retirement plan to see if it is supporting the gun industry and its lobbying group, the National Rifle Association.  Employees now have the tools available to get their money out of gun investments.

"It is long past time for government to act to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in America, but it is also long past time when we can believe that they will," said Julia Wyman, executive director of States United. "Americans want change and thanks to our partners in this effort, more Americans will be aware of their economic power to take power into their own hands."

The PSA is available on YouTube page (http://youtu.be/Y5K-Ti6tQzA) and the Unload Your 401k site.

About Unload Your 401k:  UnloadYour401K.com is a resource for individuals who want to learn if their retirement funds may currently be invested in gunmakers and how to take steps toward a "guns-free 401k."  The campaign, launched in partnership by Campaign To Unload and States United To Prevent Gun Violence, launched in April 2014 driving national awareness of divestment as unique and powerful strategy to help make a meaningful change in preventing gun violence.  It was awarded Titanium, Silver and Bronze Lions at the Cannes Creativeness Festival.

About Campaign to Unload: Campaign to Unload is a coalition of more than 50 leaders and organizations committed to helping individuals, employers, and universities divest from gun manufacturers. Learn more at http://www.campaign2unload.org.  Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About States United to Prevent Gun Violence: States United to Prevent Gun Violence is a national non-profit organization dedicated to making our families and communities safer. We are working to decrease gun death and injury and build healthy communities by supporting and strengthening 28 state gun-violence-prevention organizations and nurturing new state organizations. Find out more about States United and our state affiliates at: http://www.ceasefireusa.org/

About No Guns Allowed: Established in 2013, "No Guns Allowed" is a non-partisan anti-gun violence campaign and partnership between Snoop Dogg and the League of Young Voters to raise awareness about our nation's ongoing battle with gun violence. The campaign was inspired by Snoop Dogg's peaceful song of the same name from his Reincarnated album. The song inspired the Executive Director of the League to write an open letter to Snoop, expressing his gratitude for spreading a positive message in the hip-hop community. The campaign has continued to engage talent, media, influencers and local community leaders on the topic of gun violence and necessary actions to increase peace in our nation.

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About Cashmere Agency: Cashmere Agency is a lifestyle-marketing company comprised of a collective of minds from the worlds of entertainment, advertising and new media. Cashmere Agency specializes in identifying trends in popular culture to create and execute campaigns that speak to client's core demographic. Led by Founder, Ted Chung, along with an experienced executive team, Cashmere Agency utilizes social media marketing, digital/technology trends, brand partnerships and public relations strategies to provide full service support for client's campaigns and brands. Cashmere Agency's diverse client roster include top brands, entertainment companies and artists, including: Snoop Dogg, Red Bull, Netflix, Overstock.com, Hot Pockets, Hennessy, Colt 45, Grenco Science, NAMCO Bandai, adidas Originals, The Weinstein Company, Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Interscope Records, RCA Records, BET, EA Sports and more.

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SOURCE States United to Prevent Gun Violence

Related Links

http://www.ceasefireusa.org