saves our sons rally

Exercising theirs.

As protesters gathered...so did another group rallying this afternoon...but with a different approach...calling on the community to protect black men.

Advocacy group...the black males working academy...hosted the "save our sons" rally as ab 36's bobbi mcswine tells us...the program is about motivating black men and helping change negative perceptions.

##### "educated not incarcerated."

Educate...motivate... and activate the potential for excellence that lies within every african american man...that's the black males working academy's mission statement...and founders roszalyn akins and roger cleveland say it's been doing just that for nearly 16 years.

"we teach them and tonight is just a way of coming together to our community to say this is the future of lexington" singing...spoken word...and a powerful moment as young men lined up with photos of black people killed by police in recent history.

Nat they say the program...open to young men from kindergarten through 12th grade... offers academic lessons...trips abroad...and even classes on how to handle encounters with police.

"we teach them where to put their hands if they're pulled over.

Where their license should be all those kinds of things we teach our young men because we want them to stay alive."

Cleveland says the group meets with lexington police every year to discuss expectations.

Trayvon mason is a sophomore in high school...he says he built more character through the academy.

"what i'm going to take away is just be responsible for what you do.

If you see something say something.

Eighth grader corey peoples says he's learned how to handle tough situations.

"they've taught me how to be a king as your own person and staying positive as you go along in life."

Akins and cleveland say more than 1,000 men have graduated...and 40 are currently in college.

Cleveland says the program has changed many lives...and he hopes society shifts its attitudes.

'not the perception that you have and the stereotypes you have about young black men."

In lexington, bobbi mcswine, abc 36