Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence rallies youth

Photo by Tessa Roy WPRO News.

 

By Tessa Roy, WPRO News

“Have any of you guys ever seen someone get shot?” asked Angelina Hall of a crowd before the State House.

“I have.”

The 14 year old Hall described witnessing a fight that ended with a gunshot when she was a child. She said she hears about gun violence in her neighborhood often.

“I would like to turn on the news and not hear that someone has gotten shot in my neighborhood. Sometimes when people get shot, it’s close to where I live,” she said.

Students like Hall gathered at the State House with advocacy groups like the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence and Moms Demand Action to advocate for tougher gun laws and policies on gun violence prevention and safety. Sadie Swayze said she’d rather focus on her education rather than fearing gun violence in schools.

“It’s just really nerve wracking to have to think about that and have it on the back burner, hearing about all these different school shootings. No one ever thinks it’s going to be their school, but you never know, and so to have that fear is just mortifying,” she said.

Providence Student Christopher Sime shared his message to those running for office in the upcoming elections.

“Pay attention more to us and try to build a future for the youth instead of staying on the same kind of systems that haven’t really been working for anyone,” he said.

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