APS students rally against gang violence, push city and school leaders for better support

ATLANTA — A group of Atlanta Public Schools students is fed up with the rise in gang and gun violence.

They took over the steps of Atlanta City Hall on Thursday night, in a rally and march to stand up against the brutal crimes that are affecting their peers.

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“I am tired of reading the headlines, seeing the news stories of bullets taking our young men,” said the president of the Student Advisory Council, Eleanor Jones. “Enough is enough.”

“Last month, our friends died,” said senior Zion Byrd, a member of the Student Advisory Council. “Last month our brothers died.”

Dozens of students are not only mourning the death of two of their peers but are calling for change. They say the systems in place to guide and protect them are not working.

“The absence of mental health support and coordinated collaboration between jurisdictions is ultimately the reason 12-year-old Zyion Charles lost his life,” Jones added.

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“We are demanding increased funding to enhance accessibility to family therapists to restore these broken homes,” said the vice president of the Student Advisory Council, Aiyen Leivert.

Students are also pushing for stronger active shooter training, proper ID systems in schools, and a better partnership between leaders of the City of Atlanta and the Student Advisory Council.

“We see fear and we see anxiety, and scholars, you will not navigate that alone,” said Atlanta Superintendent of Schools, Lisa Herring, addressing the crowd.

“You don’t have to have 100,000 followers on Instagram to be an influencer, you are influencing by being right here right now,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

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Tiffany Smith says she made a point to show up to the rally, the way the community showed up for her. Her son, 15-year-old Kameron Jackson, was one of the two victims shot and killed near Atlantic Station last month.

“I’m really committed to supporting the youth,” Smith said. “Every phone call, every text message, every Instagram message I receive from people keeps me moving forward.”

Members of the Student Advisory Council are also pushing for proper student ID systems, increased police presence during school hours, more opportunities for after-school activities, and more internship opportunities.

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