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Borough President Adams addressed hundreds of student activists at a rally they organized on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall as part of their walkouts to
protest gun violence. Profiles in Activism
There are profiles in activism all
around Brooklyn. Young people across
the borough are leading the next generation
of social movements by getting
involved in their neighborhoods, speaking
out about important issues, and galvanizing
their friends and family to get
involved too. These are profiles of four
young people who were involved in organizing
March For Our Lives rallies
alongside Borough President Adams
following the mass shooting at Marjory
Stoneman Douglas High School in
Parkland, Florida. They all exemplify a
reenergized movement against gun violence
that is inspiring hearts and minds
across the borough.
ANDREW MYERS
SENIOR AT PACKER COLLEGIATE
HIGH SCHOOL
Andrew has always been involved
in politics, but he got engaged in the
anti-gun violence movement after the
shooting in Parkland. He was inspired
by the way the Parkland students were
speaking to the media and legislators,
by speaking truth to power, and rejecting
the status quo on gun violence in
America.
As walkouts were being organized
across the country, Andrew decided
it was time to get more involved at his
school. He organized his peers at Packer
Collegiate and neighboring schools to
march to Brooklyn Borough Hall on the
morning of Wednesday, March 14th for
an anti-gun violence rally. At the rally,
he delivered an impassioned speech to
the crowd of hundreds, emphasizing the
importance of fighting for safer schools,
stricter gun laws, and less violence.
“I didn’t expect so many people to
come — and all the media attention,”
said Andrew. “It was amazing.”
It was the first time that Andrew had
organized anything like this, which took
more than two weeks to put together including
getting all the permits, sending
lots of emails, and making many phone
calls. Andrew also helped organize NYC
Says Enough, a non-profit organization
he started, which brought together students
at a rally at Washington Square
Park, held on the 19th anniversary
of the Columbine shooting on Friday,
April 20th.
For more information on Andrew’s
work, visit nycsaysenough.org.
SONIA CHAJET
WIDES
FRESHMAN AT BARD HIGH
SCHOOL EARLY COLLEGE
Sonia has been active in politics
since the 2016 presidential election. The
Prospect Heights native was galvanized
by her disappointment in the election
results and started to fight for a progressive
future for all Americans, particularly
her generation. Sonia started
TeensResist.com last October to provide
a resource for young people to get involved
in civics, advocacy, and politics.
“The news cycle is difficult considering
how important issues fall off the
country’s attention,” said Sonia. “Social
media is the way most teens get their
information — on social media, teens
are still interested in gun violence and
other important issues impacting them,
so I think that’s why there are so many
opportunities to get involved for my
generation.”
Sonia believes that young people
are really paying attention to the issue
of gun violence and other social and political
issues in their communities. She
notes that even the smallest of shootings
will now result in a louder response
from people due to the influence of social
media and the enhanced connectivity
between different individuals and
communities.
For more information on Sonia’s
work, visit teensresist.com.
JACQUELYN
HERNANDEZ
SENIOR AT MATH, ENGINEERING,
AND SCIENCE ACADEMY (MESA)
CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
Jacky, a native of Bushwick, never
thought she would get involved in politics
and civic activism. That all changed
when she watched a documentary on
the civil rights movement and was inspired
by the power of communities
coming together to change the course
of history.
After the Parkland shooting, Jacky
thought it was time to get involved and
speak out against gun violence. She
joined her sister in organizing 40 of
her schoolmates to join her on a bus
to Washington, DC, to join hundreds of
thousands of other people from across
the country at the national March For
Our Lives on Saturday, March 24th.
“Movements do not happen overnight,”
said Jacky. “I believe things will
change on gun violence, but it takes a
long time, work, and dedication. There
Photo Credit: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
will be an outcome, even if we do not
see it tomorrow, but in the months and
years ahead.”
Jacky is also proud of her year-long
tenure as president of Justice Advocates
of MESA, a student organization
that promotes civic engagement and
political advocacy on a variety of issues.
DOV ALPERIN
EIGHTH GRADER AT MS 442
SCHOOL FOR INNOVATION
Dov has been involved in politics and
civic activism for many years thanks to
the influence of his parents and extended
family, who have been taking him to
rallies on many social justice issues. After
the shooting in Parkland, Dov decided
it was time to get organized against
gun violence. He joined his friend Carter
Nyhan to help organize a walkout with
other students from MS 442 School for
Innovation as well as the Friday, April
20th rally in Washington Square Park.
“No change happens unless you get
people to talk about it,” said Dov. “Organizing
11-13 year olds is not easy, but
this is a really important issue that unfortunately
happens every day, particularly
in communities of color, and that’s
why we must speak out.”
One achievement Dov is particularly
proud of is creating StudentActivism.
xyz, a website that educates young
people about how to get involved in civic
activism, political advocacy, and making
a difference in their communities. The
website also has a tool to find out who
your legislators are at the local, state,
and federal level, and how to contact
them directly through email, phone, and
social media.