Teens address Lexington gun violence

With encouragement from the director of ONE Lexington with the Mayor's Office, Devine Carama, and his "We Are ONE" stop the violence poem program, about 100 eighth graders put their emotions on paper.

EIGHTH GRADERS ATA DOWNTOWNLEXINGTON SCHOOLARE REECFLTING ONHOW G VUNIOLENCEHAS AFFECTEDTHEM.THEY'RE PUTTINGPEN TOPAPER...UNGSI THEIRVOICETOS PUSHFOR POSITIVECHANGE.LEX 18'S KRISTENEDWARDS HAS THEIRSTORY."WHILE THESTUDENTS HERATELEXINGTONTRADITIONALMAGNET SCHOOLSPEND MOST OFTHEIR DAY INSIDETHESE FOURWALLS..

THEY'REALSO REALLYTUNED IN TOWHAT'S GOING ONOUTSIDE OF THEM."LEXINGTON POLICEHAS REPORTED 28GUN RELATEDHOMICIDES SO FARTHIS YEAR.

ANDEIGHTH GRADETEACHER SARATHORNTON SAYSHER KIDS AREFEARFUL.SARA: "THESE AREA13ND 14 YEAROLD KIDS.

THEYSHOULD NOT HAVETO BE THINKING ORWALLS..

THEY'REALSO REALLYUNTED IN TOWALLS..

THEY'REALSO REALLYTUNED IN TOWHAT'S GOING ONOUTSIDE OF THEM."LEXINGTON POLICEHAS REPORTED 28GUN RELATEDHOMICIDES SO FARTHIS YEAR.

ANDEIGHTH GRADETEACHER SARATHORNTON SAYSHER KDSI AREFEARFUL.SARA: "THESE ARE13 AND 14 YEAROLD KIDS.

THEYSHOULD NOT HAVETO BE THINKING ORDEALING WITH TSHIAND THEIR SOCIALLIVES."BUT THEY ARE...DEVINE: "IF YOUHAVE EVER HEARDGUNSHOTS BEFOREIN YOUR LIFE,RAISE YOUR HAND."WITHENCOURAGEMENTFROM ACTIVISTDEVINE CARAMA...AND HIS "WE AREIN YOUR LIFE,RAISE YOUR HAND."WITHENCOURAGEMENTFROM ACTIVISTDEVINE CARAMA...AND HIS "WE AREONE" STOP THEVIOLENCEPROGRAM....THESEKIDS PUT THEIREMOTIONS ONPAPER.DEQUAYA: "I NEVERBE ABLE TO STOPHEARING THATRING AFTER THATPOP.

SEEING MYCOUSINS BODYDROP."13-YEAR-OLDDEQUAYA TUCKERSAYS SHE WASJUST 7 WHEN SHESAW HER COUSINGET SHOT.

SHE'SBEGGING FOR THEVIOLENCE TO STOP.DEQUAYA: "I REALLYHOPE THAT ITCHANGES BECAUSENO BODY ELSEWANTS TO DIE."SARA: "SEVERAL OFTHEM IN THEIRPOEMS HAVE SAIDTHAT THEY WANTTHE OLDLEXINGTON BACKWHICH ISPOWERFUL TOOBECAUSE THEY'REYOUNG.

THEY'RE8TH GRADERS.

BUTTHEY CANREMEMBER WHENIT WASN'T LIKETHIS."SHE SAYS BYHAVING THE KIDSTALK ABOUT GUNVIOLENCE... SHEDOESN'T WANT TOCREATE FEAR... BUTRATHER RAISEAWARENESSBECAUSE THAT'SHOW CHANGEHAPPENS...SOTEENS STOPWRITING WORDSLIKE THESE....SARA: "TOO MANYPEOPLE HAVE DIEDBY GUNS.

I CAN'TLOSE ANYMOREFAMILY.

MY UNCLE,BROTHER, COUSIN,GONEOO T SOON."WITH THISGENERATIONALREADYNEGATIVLYIMPACTED...THEY'RE LOOKINGTO TURN ITAROUND... AND BE AFORCE FORPOSITIVE CHANGE.JUST TAKE IT FROMDEQUAYA...DEQUAYA: "GUNSARE NOT THEANSWER.

YOUDON'T NEED A GUN.MAYBE LIKE YOUNEED HELP, TALKTO SOMEBODY.YOU DON'T NEED AGUN TO SOLVE IT.THAT DOESN'TSOLVE ANYTHING."IN LEXINGTONKRISTEN EDWARDSLEX 18 NEWS.ANGIE:REMEMBER THE