'Open Letter To Congress': 11 Latino Celebrities Sign Petition In Hopes To End Gun Violence

Following the back-to-back tragedies that took place in Orlando, Fla. the second weekend of June, where many innocent people lost their lives due to shootings, celebrities all over the world have joined forces with the hopes to end gun violence.

Nearly 200 top artists and executives have signed an open letter to Congress asking them to take action on gun violence. The letter was created by Billboard and Everytown for Gun Safety, the leading gun-violence prevention group, which garnered the signature of top-notch celebrities such as Alicia Keys, Beck, Calvin Harris, Sia, Ringo Starr and many more. Joan Jett and Lagy Gaga were the first to sign the letter.

"Like the rest of the country and the world, Billboard editors were horrified by the mass killing at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub on June 12, and by the murder of singer Christina Grimmie the night before," expressed a note from the editors. "Both tragedies occurred where musicians and music fans gathered. And so faced with another gun-related tragedy, the staff organized this special 'Open Letter to Congress' cover of Billboard."

Many Latino celebrities have also signed the open letter, including Selena Gomez who was a good friend of Grimmie, a former finalist on "The Voice."

• Christina Aguilera
• Demi Lovato
• Jennifer Lopez
• Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Los Tigres del Norte
• Mana
• Nicky Jam
• Prince Royce
• Ricky Martin
• Selena Gomez
• Shakira

The official open letter to congress can be read below.

AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS: STOP GUN VIOLENCE NOW

As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change.

Music always has been celebrated communally, on dance floors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences—going to school or church or work—now is threatened, because of gun violence in this country.

The one thing that connects the recent tragedies in Orlando is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns.

We call on Congress to do more to prevent the gun violence that kills more than 90 Americans every day and injures hundreds more, including:

Require a background check for every gun sale

Block suspected terrorists from buying guns

Billboard and the undersigned implore you—the people who are elected to represent us—to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk.

Sincerely,