San Quentin residents attended the first graduation ceremony of the mutual help group, Arms Down, held in Chapel B.

Arms Down is a program focusing on creating a safe space for incarcerated individuals to process traumas which lead to their use of a firearm. The long term goal is to devise solutions alternative to gun violence through mindful actions and raising awareness to students and youth.

On this day, Arms Down graduated 60 students from its first cohort. In attendance were family members of the graduates, group sponsor Imawm M. Fasih, outside guest speakers, prison administrators, including Warden C. Andes.

Sammie Nichols was chosen to speak on behalf of his graduating class. Nichols spoke with no notes as he shared a deeply personal testimony of how guns affected his life.

“Gun violence controlled my life. I carried a gun since I was 13 years old, all in the name of protecting myself and family,” Nichols said. “But truth be told, I did more harm and damage to those I intended to protect, most notably my community and myself.”

Resident Jermaine Hunter said that it is important that the curriculum be translated to serve the non-English speaking community. “Any hand that can pick up a gun should indeed take this course,” Hunter said.

Hunter ended by saying that the mission of the program could be summed up by 12 simple words.

“Let your mind be your gun and your words be your bullets,” he said.