PALMDALE – The weather was bad, forcing the ceremony indoors and the crowd was sparse because many students thought they were too cool to take part; still the show went on for those students who chose to take a stand Wednesday evening.
Each student in the small group bravely took the microphone and recited a personal call to action to end violence and abuse in the community.
“Whether abuse is intentional or an act of the subconscious, it is wrong and should not be justified,” junior Wafiqah Shar told the audience.
“This is taking place everywhere we turn and our time is right now to make it all stop,” said senior Justin Spencer.
“We hope to raise awareness in both the community and schools, and call for people to act against abuse and contribute to a more peaceful environment,” said junior Amber Polson.
“I believe that if we come together as a school and community, we can make a difference in this world,” said freshman Stephen Morales. “So make a promise to yourself today, right now, and save the drama!”
Titled “A Moment to Remember,” the ceremony was organized by the ‘Save the Drama’ Violence Prevention Club, an organization formed by Pete Knight High School students to help prevent bullying and violence on campus and in the community.
“We really just want to get the word out about violence and abuse and why there is no need for it,” said club president Larren McGee. “If there is a fight going on, we split up the fight and say ‘save the drama!’ there is no need for it. Everybody should get along.”
McGee said the club was formed in February of 2011 and has faced some challenges along the way, mainly lack of membership.
“As of right now people think they are too cool to be in the club, so we just deal with it,” she said.
Students in the club received some tall words of encouragement Wednesday. Several members of Antelope Valley’s professional basketball team, the Los Angeles Slam, attended the ceremony and shared with the students personal stories of how they rose above gangs, violence and crime in their communities growing up.
Coach Don Sanchez talked of being bullied so bad he stopped going to school for several months and was forced to repeat the seventh grade.
“That’s something that holds dear to me, I never told anyone that story before,” Sanchez said. “I hate to see other people go through that.”
Local rap group, West Republic, and Gail Knight, widow of the school’s namesake, William J. “Pete” Knight, also attended the ceremony. Knight commended the students for their courage in taking a stand against violence.
“I think it’s incredible, it’s wonderful, it’s all positive,” Knight said.
Students ended their ceremony by releasing red and white balloons into the air to remember victims and survivors of abuse and violence.
Abdul Majeed Askia says
It takes a very healthy and secure minded person to rise above violence. Yes,when you feel good about yourself and you know who and what you are you
don’t waste your time trying to prove yourself to some misguided person.
S Medrano says
I applaud Pete Knight & Del Sur for their PBS special…if bringing awareness protects & saves just one child, then we’ve done our job! Which School District will be next?
Abdul Majeed Askia says
If we honestly desire to address violence we have to take under consideration not only the thoughts we think as individuals but
also the entire layout of our society: The music,the entertainment
world,the magzines and books that we read and of course our associations. Unfortunately much of the lyrics these days deal
with killings, mayhem,gore and violence of every type. In fact many
have their sounds on blast indicating bad attitude,rage,hostility,
anger,insensitivity,bitterness and the fact that he or she will
bring it on. When addressing violence or anything these days we have
a tendency to address it on a superficial level. We don’t like to face off on industries, companies and those who manufacture material
encouraging violence ! Even though we may say to ‘ youngsters ‘ you
shouldn’t be so violent or upset, while at the same time everything
around them ‘spells’ violence ! In fact our society is armed to the teeth with weapons ! Gun sells is at an all time high! Why ? Because
a greater many of us intend to solve problems with mo0re violence !
Teenagers notice that their parents have all the latest weaponry as well
as they listen to and watch their parents reactions to events that occur
in society as the parents rush to the gun shop as the ultimate solution!
What communication skills ! What about the chocies you make in life ?
What about addressing life style and association ? What about addressing
all the social ills that indirectly contribute to violence ? What about
a peace movement and or a movement that is designed to educate people
about all the senseless violence in our communities. Believe me we are
all affected one way or another. IT is certainly a good thing for the youth to address bulling and school violence. We, as a whole,should make
a collective effort. abdulaskia@yahoo.com/323-9459589
Abdul Majeed Askia says
We applaud the students stand agaist violence and bullies. At the
heart of or root of addressing bullies is basically confused individuals ! Yes, I have thousands of conversations with bullies
and you will find a person that was either mistreated and/or
broken hearted ! This is the case with most wayward people. Some
where in their lives either they or someone that the loved was mistreated;therefore,he or she ends up taking their frustration,pain and anger out on someone else-some innocent person that is totally disconnected with the original pain. I have never been a bully but I have had to deal with bullies !
I know pain first hand ! I had and uncle and aunt that was killed
when I was only seven years of age,my mother was shot when I was
only eight years old ! I don’t have to tell you my world was turned up-side down ! At such and early age I became mad at the
world. Mine you,I was shown a tremendous amount of love within
my inner circle,thats why I was so upset with the outside world
bring harm to people that I loved so dearly! Thus, I know what
it feels like to lose love one’s via violence. At heart I am a
loving person because I was wrapped in alot of love within my family. At the same time I became very skeptical of people outside of my inner circle. I know how people get off track and
become hostile! There is a method to the madness! I know how it
starts and I have an idea how to address it. We must learn to go
to the root of things and not just the surface or superficial
approach.
I have made a many mistakes and bad chocies. I had to back track
to see how I got caught up, how I went of the deep end from my
original self,my original up bringing. I decided I must take a stand, I must stand up for what is right. I can’t undue the past,
I can do nothing about yesterday or yester year but I can seize
the moment and Live in the now and share my insight to help better the lives of up-coming generations.
There is a way out of negativity. There is a way to reach people
when we make collective efforts. It is not a matter of fault finding and condemning anyone. It is knowing the solution ! The
knowledge you have, the better understanding and insight you
have in addressing the situation. Jails are just temporary. Jails
and prisons are only bandaids and we can’t build enough prisons
to contain the social ills we have. However, we can began to take
notice of all the senseless violence,suicides, and destructive behavior in our communities and ask ourselves why ? What is at
the root of this behavior ?
No matter the hatred,no matter the rejection,no matter the self destructive criticism you can rise above the ill will of others!
With the proper knowldge and the proper focus you can win against
all odds! Its all in your head ! It may sound simple or hard to
believe but our thoughts,perceptions and how we see things is
at the root of the problem. I have given my life over to solutions and I am stepping up and stepping out in the field
regardless of what the nay sayers say-and i am saying to everybody out their your life can be better and you can have inner peace!You can change your thoughts and change your life for the better. Abdul Majeed Askia/email:abdulaskia@yahoo.com