Local teens speak out against violence

Saturday, March 18th 2006, 6:22 pm

By: News On 6

Some Tulsa teenagers say they're tired of seeing their friends die. Today they met to talk about what they can do to save others from gangs and crime.News on Six Reporter Ashli Sims tells us the death of a local student has Tulsa teenagers coming together to stop the violence.

Many Tulsa teenagers have been living in the shadow of coffins, mourning classmates and friends taken too soon.

Xavier Walls, BTW Sophomore: "You see these people walking around with you every day and its like you're here one minute and you get a phone call the next minute and they're gone... we gotta do something to stop this cause just too many people are dying..."

The cycle of violence really hit home for many of these kids, when Johnny Young Junior was gunned down in Lacey Park last month.

Jordan Jones: â€œEver since Johnny Young died and there have been other deaths of groups our age and we're getting scared. Nobody wants to do anything anymore or go to parties cause they might get shot up... one of our friends might get shot."

Dorie Simmons, Event Organizer: "I have students in my class that were deeply effected by the recent shooting of Johnny Young Junior and they said to me Miss Dorie what can we do to make a difference."

These students decided they had to do something to stop the violence in particular gang violence.
The teenagers worked with their teacher at the Hutcheson "Y" to try to show other teens the ripple effect of violent crime, from the funeral home who cares for the dead to the juvenile justice officer in charge of the person who pulls the trigger. And they say their mission doesn't end with this one meeting.

Xavier Walls:"we trying to go to schools and try to get the word out its not a fact that we trying to break it up or that its just this school or this school cause every school needs help right now there's gangs everywhere."

Hopefully this is the beginning of a solution. Ashli Sims, The News on 6.