‘I will never bring a gun to school:’ High school students in Atlanta pledge to stop the violence

ATLANTA — Some local high school students are doing their part to stop the violence. Channel 2 Action News was there as the students took the pledge of peace and non-violence.

The Summer of Peace Anti-Gun Violence Peace Rally happened at Booker T. Washington High School in southwest Atlanta. Organizers brought out rappers, like artist Noodah, to entertain the students. Local radio personalities also had the crowd energized.

Fulton County Chief Probate Judge Kenya Johnson told Channel 2′s Tom Jones the event was a well-thought-out plan.

“Well, we wanted to have influencers. And influencers already have the ear of our young people,” she explained.

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After the entertainers brought messages of peace, Johnson and Fulton County Solicitor General Keith Gammage had students stand, raise their right hands and agree to a Pledge of Peace.

Johnson had the students repeat after her: “I will never bring a gun to school,” she said. “I will never bring a gun to school,” the students shouted.

Students also pledged to never use a gun.

“To settle a dispute,” Gammage said. “To settle a dispute,” the students responded.

Most of the students saw news coverage of the hunt for mass shooting suspect Deion Patterson Wednesday. One student said some of her classmates weren’t even afraid a gunman was on the loose.

“And that’s the sad part. Students aren’t even afraid anymore ‘cause they’re so used to it,” tenth grader Tiara Poole said.

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Events like this hope to change that. Organizers even asked Channel 2′s Tom Jones to help share the message about the importance of peace and ending gun violence.

“If you got friends who say it’s cool to carry a gun and shoot people, you need to find some better friends,” Jones said.

“It’s these kinds of messages though that we hope will change lives and make our young people make better decisions,” Gammage explained.

Students were also able to sign up for summer jobs and apply to college.

Two more peace rallies are planned for Douglass and Tri-Cities High Schools.

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