JONESBORO — Several Jonesboro High students recently took a pledge against gun violence.
In observance of the 2023 National Day of Concern-Student Pledge Against Gun Violence on Oct. 18, the students — in conjunction with Clayton County Board of Education Chair Jessie Goree; School Board member Mary Baker; the Uplifting Hearts, Minds, and Souls organization; the Voices of Black Mothers United; and Clayton County Public Schools — hosted a “Student Pledge Against Gun Violence” forum in the JHS Mock Trial Courtroom.
According to Pledge.com, the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national program that honors the role that young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence.
This campaign against youth gun violence culminates each year on a Day of National Concern.
The program has provided a means for beginning the conversation with young people about gun violence since 1996 with more than 10 million students signing the pledge.
As part of the forum, students first heard testimonies from Goree and Baker about the impact of gun violence on their personal lives and their experiences as community leaders.
Through the activity, students were also able to hear from Zanetia Henry, VBMU State Lead of Mississippi — on behalf of Rhonda Knight, VMBU State Lead of Georgia, and Duane Dennis, who shared their stories of how they each lost a child to acts of gun violence and their journey of forgiveness as parents of the victims.
Retired homicide detective Richard Stone, Sgt. Darryl Triplett, and Officer Carrie Oliver, of the Jonesboro Police Department, detailed their powerful experiences as officers who deal directly with gun and gang violence throughout their careers.
This event also included a video reenactment of gun violence created by JHS students that showcased the dangers of participating in gang activity and…
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