What happens when a regular day at school turns into the worst day of your life? Teens in Northeast Ohio are facing gun violence or the threat of gun violence in what should be a safe space. Living For We hosts Marlene Harris-Taylor and Myesha Watkins speak with Garfield Heights High School student Travis Page who found himself running for his life the first time he attended a football game as a freshman. A shooter interrupted the football game and sent students, parents and players scrambling to escape. We also meet a mom and a daughter, Reina Gomez and Francine Torres, who are still reeling from an incident at a Lorain County High School. Students and teachers were terrified when a student brought a gun into the building and the school went on lockdown – with everyone thinking there was a shooter on the loose. It was bad information, but students were traumatized and desperate to escape. We also talk to Dr. Terrance Menefee, a long-time administrator and principal in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. He lost 17 students he was mentoring to gun violence in a five-year period. Menefee shares the challenges involved in keeping kids safe when arguments that begin on social media can end in gun violence near school buildings.
Have you or someone you know been impacted by gun violence? Or do you have any thoughts about what was shared in today’s episode? Share your story for a chance to be featured on the show!
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Moms Demand Action:
Moms Demand Action is a grassroots movement of Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.
In an average year, 1,602 people die and 3,753 people are wounded by guns in Ohio. Gun violence costs Ohio $22.3 billion each year, of which $493.7 million is paid by taxpayers. Learn more about gun violence in Ohio here.
Students Demand Action:
“We’re young activists committed to ending gun violence in our communities.
We’ve grown up in the midst of America’s gun violence crisis. In fact, we’ve been called the ‘school shooting generation.’ Now we’re rising up and organizing in our high schools, colleges, and communities across the country to demand action to end gun violence.’