Press Releases
12-Year-Old Victoria Pannell and Other Kids To Lead A March Today Against Gun Violence & Drug Activity in Harlem, NY As Part of A Larger National Effort Spearheaded by NAN’s 13-Year-Old National Youth Director Mary Pat Hector
—WHEN:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 – 6:00 p.m.
WHERE:
155th Street and St. Nicholas Ave/Harlem, NY
Wright Brothers Park and School
The participants will march from this location to 157th Street.
BACKGROUND:
National Action Network recently announced the national Shake-Off the Violence tour and coast-to-coast cease fire coordinated by NAN’s Youth Movement and the Youth in Action group.
In Harlem, New York, twelve-year-old Victoria Pannell, NAN’s Northeast Regional Director of the Youth Movement, will lead a march and rally in Harlem where gang, drug, and gun activity is rampant. Today’s march is part of a larger national effort that was initiated by thirteen-year-old NAN National Youth Director and the founder of Youth in Action Mary-Pat Hector who initiated a national campaign in cites including New York, Detroit, St. Louis, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and more.
Recently a “Shake off the Violence” rally took place in Atlanta, Georgia on November 11th where young people united to discuss alternatives to violence by strengthening the community with programs to keep them off the streets.
According to 12-year-old Victoria Pannell the organizer of the march, “the youth will march from four corners to bring attention and awareness to the drug dealers and gang bangers that are terrorizing our communities.”
NAN promotes a message of anti-violence by encouraging dialogue on how to address the rampant gun violence in communities of color across the nation. NAN’s national Executive Director Tamika D. Mallory has brought together leaders in government, the community and youth groups to stop the violence and foster positive change. According to Mary Pat Hector, the national Youth Director “the schools and our communities will be safer and more secure, free of fear, and conducive to learning as a result of students being actively involved in meaningful violence prevention efforts. We intend for the Shake off Violence Campaign to decrease the potential for violence by promoting meaningful student involvement, education and service opportunities in efforts to provide safer environments for learning.”
Contact:
Rachel Noerdlinger
[email protected]