Fulton County Solicitor Keith Gammage and the Office of the Fulton County Solicitor General along with Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools will host Guns Down Heads Up – a real talk about the law, according to a press release. The event takes place 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park.
This award-winning, anti-crime presentation program was created by the National Black Prosecutors Association. Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and attorneys providing life-saving solutions for area youth will join to address the reasons, consequences and solutions to youth violence with hard-hitting discussions about life and critical thinking.
“My philosophy is to focus on education, community service and working with our young people to discourage them from committing a crime,” says Fulton County Solicitor Keith Gammage. “Sometimes my job requires me to be tough; but it is so much better for everyone if we can help our young people stay on track and out of the criminal justice system,” Gammage added.
This program will include a “Peace Pledge” which will be taken by the participating students. A teen job and resource fair for the students will also be a part of the agenda. Personal testimonies will come from author and ex-offender Desiree Lee and shooting victim Hugo Rosha, who is an ex-gang member with first-hand experiences in the criminal justice system. Justice Harold Melton will administer the peace pledge. Prosecutors, attorneys and jailers will be on hand to give teens the harsh realities of incarceration and how to safely respond during a police encounter.
The program is co-sponsored by the six chapters that make up the Atlanta Cluster of The Links, Incorporated. Other special guests include rappers Young Jeezy and 21 Savage who have been engaged to encourage students to follow their dreams and not the street life.
The anti-violence program is also sponsored by The Atlanta Hawks, The National Black Prosecutors Association – Southeast Region, Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools, The City of Atlanta, and The City of College Park.
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