Chester
High School students walked out of school in protest of gun violence in
solidarity with a nationwide call for action brought on by the mass shooting in
Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018. They honored the 17 lives lost but they
want you to know how much they too have been affected by gun violence in their
community.
They
gave a speech.
On behalf of the
class of 2019, I’d like to share the impact that gun violence has had on our
city.
Gun
Violence has...
· Given us the
feelings of hostility every time we
step outside
· Given us a
paranoid outlook
· Created losses
that isolate us emotionally
· Become a regular
part of life in this city
· Stolen our youth
and our childhoods
· Forced us to be
strong beyond our years
· Created an
unending cycle of hopelessness
· Made us
prisoners in our homes
· Forced us to
suffer along with others, as we empathize with their losses.
As a result, of
the violence we have witnessed,
We
should...
· Be more
respectful to one another
· Be mindful of
the feelings and needs
· Not give in to
peer pressure
· Seriously
evaluate the validity of our conflicts
· Settle conflicts
sensibly
· Establish a city
culture that is undivided by
· territory and
affiliations
· Show value and
gratitude for the lives we live each day
They shared a poem.
I’d
like to end by sharing a poem that exemplifies the self-destructive impact of
gun violence in Chester.
Before You Pull the Trigger…
Before you pull the trigger,
Know your victim has a name.
Like you, he’s disappointed with
Life’s sacrifice and pain.
Before you pull the trigger,
Know he yearns for better days.
Like you, he simply needs a chance
To mend his sinful ways.
Before you pull the trigger,
Know he has a family, too.
Who never will forget the loss
Of all you’ll put them through.
So, before you pull the trigger,
Take the time to think it through.
The person you’re about to kill,
Is someone just like you.
By Viola Norman
No comments:
Post a Comment