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Students' outcry: 'We no longer trust that our streets are safe.'
01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, May 11, 2006
On June 16, the last day of school, students plan to take their anti-gun message to the streets.
BY LINDA BORG
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE -- On April 6, 2005, 18-year-old Barry Ferrell was shot to death at a bus stop outside the Hartford Park housing complex.
Ferrell was a student at the Alternate Learning Project, but played basketball on the Mount Pleasant team because his small South Side school doesn't have a team.
Since Ferrell's death, three Mount Pleasant students have lost their lives to gun violence.
Last month, on the one-year anniversary of Ferrell's death, a group of Mount Pleasant students in Tracy Boothman's junior year English class decided to do something about gun violence.
They composed a letter to 58 elected officials, from Mayor David N. Cicilline to President Bush. This is what it said, in part:
"We the undersigned are reeling from the effects of our loss. Many of us are deeply sad, devastated, disappointed, concerned, angry, worried, scared, shocked, uncomfortable, confused, frightened, hurt and cautious.
"We feel resigned, ready to give up, powerless and hopeless. We no longer trust that our streets are safe. We are no longer free. We wonder, 'Does anyone really care?"
A total of 700 students, teachers and staff signed the letter, which was mailed to dozens of political leaders on April 6.
In their letter, the students called for legislation limiting the sale of handguns. They asked to extend the hours of the city's recreation centers to give teenagers a safe, healthy alternative to gang violence.
As of Wednesday, seven elected officials, including Cicilline, had responded to their letter. Two of them -- Providence School Board members Ronnie Young and Rosanna Castro -- were so moved by the students' anguish that they decided to meet with them in Boothman's class on Tuesday.
Young, who graduated from Classical High School, told the students that he was there to listen.
"Your letter really touched me," he said, "because I was born on the South Side. I have family in jail. I used to feel that no one cared. My heart goes out to you."
The students talked about feeling unsafe in their houses and on the streets. They described casual beatings, shoot-outs, random acts of violence. At Ferrell's funeral, the politicians and the police promised to do something about the shootings, but, the teenagers said, nothing has happened.
"For me, school is the safest place," said Latisha Costa, who lives near Manton Avenue. "I don't feel safe walking to my mom's car."
Sheron Robinson said, "Most kids don't care if they die or not. They feel lost. There is no where else to be but the street."
Obafemi Kolawole told the visitors, "On Saturday, I saw a bunch of kids beat a guy for his money."
Another teenager chimed in, "I could leave school right now and get a gun."
Young asked what they wanted to achieve by writing to their elected officials. More after-school activities, one said. College-age mentors who can show us the benefits of higher education, said another. More policemen on the streets.
"We signed the letter to get your attention," said Eric Garcia. "We all know about violence. We want the people in government to do something about it. They're not paying attention."
A student sitting in the back of the class said he wanted to organize a march against gun violence. Young picked up on the idea and ran with it.
"There are a bunch of people out there waiting for you to fail," Young told them. "We need to have a plan."
Young brainstormed with the students and with Barbara Allen, a student assistance counselor who drafted the letter.
When would be a good time to have a march? June 16, the last day of school.
Who should participate? High school students from across the city.
How will we reach them? Write letters to all of the principals.
Who else should we contact? Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and a big contributor to public schools.
As the plans began to gel, Barry's brother, Branden Ferrell, got up and wrote everything down on a white board.
"This is your march," Young told him. "When do you want to have the first meeting?"
"Whoa," Branden said. "This isn't my march."
"It's our march," another student said.
When the end-of-class bell sounded, the students in Boothman's class were pumped.
Afterward, Allen talked about how profoundly her life has been affected by violence.
"I've been to more than 20 funerals in 18 years," she said.
A week before the anniversary of Ferrell's death, Latisha Costa stood up in Boothman's class and read from her journal. She described how angry and helpless she felt after Ferrell was shot.
"It's been so hard for me," she said. "Then about two months ago, I felt his presence. I knew he was still there."
Costa started crying in class, then Branden Ferrell stood up and hugged her. Before long, both of them were in tears and Boothman suggested that they go and talk with Allen.
"Me and Brandon heard a knock on Miss Allen's door," Costa said. "The entire class came into the room."
After talking with the students, Allen, a self-described '60s activist, said, "I think you guys have something to say."
Allen sat down with the entire class. She asked, "When you think about all these things, what do you feel? What do you want me to say?"
Allen helped them with the language. Together, they wrote, "We want to take back our streets, our neighborhoods and our schools. Please hear our cry. Please listen to our voice."
Then, during the first week in April, the students set up shop in the cafeteria and collected signatures from 700 students and staff in three days. Those signatures were attached to the letter.
Rep. Joanne M. Giannini, of Providence, one of the officials to respond, wrote that the legislature is considering a bill that would make it more difficult to obtain guns illegally. She offered to meet with students to discuss how to make the city a safer place.
Castro praised the students for turning the tragic deaths into a catalyst for positive change:
"Please tell your students that I am deeply touched by their letter and that I care," Castro wrote. "I have lived in South Providnce for over 10 years and I know how difficult some of our neighborhoods can be."
After Boothman's class ended, Allen thanked Young for showing up.
"Your being here will confront their cynicism," she said. "They will say, 'There are leaders who kept their word.' Our word is all we have."
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