Children in one Nashville community recently staged a rally to fight back against gun violence.
“You always see us as adults protesting, but the kids never have a voice,” said the Rev. Marcus Campbell, pastor of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. “They are the ones who are being affected by the gun violence.”
Campbell helped the children organize the rally.
According to police records, 84 criminal homicides were recorded in Nashville in 2016, and 80 percent of those involved guns.
Malachi Campbell, 10, said he wanted to speak out to help those who were too afraid to have their voices heard.
“When I see on the news that somebody’s killed, I kind of worry if I’m going to die or if my parents are going to die or my siblings,” Malachi said.
Lavell Clark, 10, said he wants to leave Nashville. “I don’t like it when people get shot because it takes away from my community,” Clark said. “It takes a village to raise a kid.”
The children want to save their village, and the rally provided them with an opportunity to speak out.
“I always tell the kids, as well as adults, don’t ever lose your voice,” Campbell said.
Malachi also planned to rely on his faith and family. “Like the Bible says, if you obey your parents, then your days will be longer,” Malachi said. “So, I’m going to obey my parents.”
