Oakland Students Head to D.C. for “March for Our Lives” Demonstration

Oakland Students Head to D.C. for “March for Our Lives” Demonstration

A group of nine young leaders from East Bay schools, organized and led by Regina Jackson of East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC), will participate in the “March for Our Lives” demonstration for an end to gun violence Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee urged Jackson to organize the delegation so that Oakland would have a presence in the historic march.  Lee contributed money to pay for part of the trip, and a micro-grant covered the rest.

“Recently we did a listening session with Oakland Lee about gun violence. She asked me to coordinate the student delegation. I will be leading the group of students, who have all been affected by gun violence, ages 13-18,” said Jackson.

Members of the EOYDC delegation: Damoni Nears, senior at Moreau Catholic High; Destiny Shabazz, senior at McClymonds High; Devlynn Nolan, senior at Castlemont High; Jada White, 8th grader at Edna Brewer Middle; Khali Walker, freshman at Castlemont High; Kia Hanson, senior at Fremont High; Nala Lazimba, 8th grader at Alliance Academy; Rasheem Haskins, sophomore at Skyline High; and Ramaj Walker, junior at Envision Academy.

Organizers of the Washington D.C. march are students from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and adults died.

The young Oakland leaders spoke about how gun violence has impacted their lives.

“I have first-hand experience with gun violence,” said Jada White, aged 13.

“I lost my father when I was just a baby. I am going to the march to share my experience and my hope for stronger gun education and policy.”

Seventeen-year-old Kia Hanson said, “I lost my brother to gun violence. My pain is real every day. I am going to the march to represent him and my hope that no one ever have to experience a tragedy like mine ever again.”

The young people plan to write a blog about the march after they return draft some language for bills to be considered at the state and federal level.

Over 800 rallies and marches are scheduled across the country Saturday in solidarity with the protest in Washington, D.C. In the Bay Areas, marches are planned for San Jose and San Francisco.

A rally will be held Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in front of City Hall in Oakland, and then attendees will go by BART to join forces with marchers in San Francisco.

The post Oakland Students Head to D.C. for  “March for Our Lives” Demonstration appeared first on Oakland Post.

COMMENTARY: Parkland’s Student Activists Are Getting a Powerful Civics Lesson – Education Week

COMMENTARY: Parkland’s Student Activists Are Getting a Powerful Civics Lesson – Education Week

Education Week logoBy Jennifer L.M. Gunn

In a typical high school civics class, students learn about local and federal government and media literacy, as well as citizenship and participation. They might learn how to contact their local representative, use social media for advancing a cause, or debate an issue they feel strongly about. But few students—and only a small fraction of adult citizens for that matter—participate in a highly contentious national debate.

Mere weeks after the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting that killed 17 students and educators, the news cycle would normally be winding down. But this tragedy doesn’t seem to be fading from memory quite as fast as previous school shootings. The reason is obvious: Parkland’s teenage students aren’t staying quiet.

As mass shootings become a disturbing cultural norm, the country’s reaction seems to follow a familiar pattern. America collectively gasps. We watch footage of children filing out of a school, arms raised. We rage on Twitter. We share political memes, shaming or congratulating the nation’s lawmakers for their “thoughts and prayers” refrain. We make donations to whichever side we’re on. And then we move on. Until more bullets fly…

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