District 3 Clayton County Commissioner Tashé Allen, the Clayton County Office of Youth Services, and Clayton County Parks and Recreation announced on May 6 that they will host a Youth Gun Violence Awareness Walk on Saturday, June 13 at the Gerald Matthews Sports Complex in Hampton. The event will begin with warm-up exercises at 9:45 a.m., followed by a moment of silence for victims of gun violence.
The walk aims to honor those lost to gun violence and support young survivors. Organizers say it will provide educational resources, bring the community together, and give people an opportunity to speak out for positive change. Participants are encouraged to wear orange for gun violence awareness, create memory tables with posters honoring loved ones lost, submit photos of victims for display on the Jumbotron, and gather in peace and unity.
A community gathering will follow the walk with music, entertainment, giveaways, resources, an open mic session, food trucks, and an Impact Wall dedicated to remembering lives lost. The event is being promoted online using the hashtag #PeaceInEveryStep.
“We walk for the lives we have lost and for the young people who still need us,” said District 3 Commissioner Tashé Allen. “Youth gun violence is impacting families and communities in real ways, and this is personal for all of us. It is going to take parents, leaders, and neighbors coming together to be present, to listen, and to take action. I am inviting everyone to come out, stand with us, and be part of the change our youth deserve.”
Clayton County schools enrolled a total of 61,644 students in the 2022-23 school year; Black students made up about 68% of enrollment while Hispanic students accounted for roughly 24%. Multiracial students represented about 3%, while white students were approximately 2% of enrollment during that period; overall student numbers declined by about 2.5% compared with the previous year according to the Georgia Department of Education.
More information about Clayton County Youth Services can be found at https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/government/chief-operating-officer/office-of-youth-services/. Details about District 3 Commissioner Tashé Allen are available at https://www.claytoncountyga.gov/government/board-of-commissioners/district-3/. Media representatives may contact Communications Administrator Valerie L. Fuller or submit inquiries through https://claytoncountyforms.claytoncountyga.gov/news-media-request.
