The recent youth-led demonstrations that were prompted in response to the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida have jump-started a conversation around the role that youth play in combating American-style gun violence. The site of the Parkland massacre was Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a majority white school in Broward County, Florida. However, Black and Brown students in New York and throughout the country have long been in the forefront of a struggle to address gun brutality through both advocacy and neighborhood-based violence interruption.

In Third Rail’s first all-youth roundtable discussion, homegrown Central Brooklyn youth leaders, Nana Samake of Kings Against Violence Iniative (K.A.V.I) and Eugena Pierre Paul of Youth Organising to Save Our Streets (YO S.O.S) will discuss their work and their views on what proactive safety and non-violence looks like in our homes, schools and on the streets of our communities.

Segment One: Mark and TK take the temperature on the national scene and how local youth leaders are assuming a place and advocacy voice in the national movement and conversation around gun violence.

Segment Two: We discuss the effects of culture and familial support on youth activists of Color. As well as, consider what kind of efforts have long been in place to create a neighborhood culture and environment in Central Brooklyn that pre-empts the use of gun and other forms of violence.

Segment Three: "Tell 'Em Why You Mad"

Intro and Outro theme Music:

“City Survival” by MC K-Swift featuring TreZure Empire.                  

Episode Music: "If" & "Note Drop" by Broke For Free.                    

Additional Audio: March For Our Lives NYC, March 24th, 2018. Courtesy of Gibran Mendez.