'Avoiding bullets isn't easy': Battle Creek children call for an end to gun violence

BATTLE CREEK — On a calm, sunny morning on the lawn of Kellogg Community College's main campus, a group of passionate kids called for action.

Wearing orange shirts emblazoned with the mantra #KidsArentBulletproof, kids enrolled in the Re-Integration to Support Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) Children's Defense Fund Freedom School recited poems, performed skits and displayed signs Wednesday calling for an end to gun violence.

“Ignoring the problem doesn’t solve anything," one child explained in a poem. "Everybody deserves to live.”

"Avoiding bullets isn’t easy," another kid added. "No one is having fun outside no more."

The demonstration culminated with a march to the corner of North and East Roosevelt avenues. Chants of "No more silence, end gun violence!" and "Books not bullets" filled the air and students held up signs with messages ranging from "I deserve to feel safe" to "How many more kids have to die."

"We just think that it’s imperative that we educate our kids in regards to reading and writing and being able to comprehend and also be involved with social action," R.I.S.E. founder Damon Brown, who helped bring the Freedom School back to Battle Creek last year, explained. "We’re trying to get these kids to value themselves which in turn will make them value life more and value other lives."

The CDF Freedom Schools program integrates reading, conflict resolution and social action in an activity-based curriculum that promotes social, cultural, and historical awareness. The six-week summer program for K-12 students is currently administered locally by R.I.S.E.

Thirty-two kids participated in the program last summer, with 35 kids signed up this year.

"We have about 85 percent retention rate (from last year)," Brown said. "To have (the kids) willing to get up every day during the summertime and come here ... it speaks volumes about what we're doing here with the kids."

Fellow organizer Jacqueline Patrick-James agreed, "it’s a summer program that (kids) will always remember.”

Wednesday's demonstration served as the group's participation in the CDF National Day of Social Action. Festivities included a proclamation from the City of Battle Creek and guest reading from Ward 2 CIty Commissioner Jenasia Morris.

"Gun violence in our community has made me want to make some changes," Morris said. "When I was little like ya’ll, I lived on Oneita Street, and at my house on Oneita street, we had bullet holes on the inside and on the outside and I didn’t want that for my brothers and sisters, and I didn't want that for other kids in the community."

Morris makes it a point to speak to children whenever possible about the potential dangers of guns. She also wants to be an example to kids in her community.

"So many times the role models that we see don’t look like us and don’t come from where we come from," Morris said. "Being able to talk to kids that come from the same neighborhood that I come from and them seeing somebody that looks them that came from where they come from ... it’s impactful."

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek children call for an end to gun violence