The unsettling wave of violence has impacted many, and often, includes people one might not expect.The 11 News I-Team’s Deborah Weiner has covered all sides of this issue for decades in Baltimore, but this week, the I-Team examines the so-called “collateral damage” associated with an uptick of youth violence.As of Monday afternoon, 10 juveniles have been killed so far this year in Baltimore City, compared to eight this time last year. And, non-fatal shootings of juveniles are significantly up with 33 this year, compared to 20 last year.Baltimore City College High School sophomore Lillian Green, 16, is an aspiring journalist. The I-Team asked her to share her thoughts in writing an open letter to Baltimore City about the urgent issue of youth violence.”The rising number of violence within city public schools has been unfathomable,” Lillian said, reading from her letter. “If you’re a student, you fear walking through your building. And, if you’re a parent, you wonder if your child will be the next name on the evening news.”On the outside, everything appears OK with students like Lillian, but just below the surface, there is much to be understood.”Even the students who aren’t directly affected by it at that school — they might not have known the kid or the kid who did the hurting — but they still feel it, and they see it and they hear it,” Lillian told the I-Team.Reading from her letter, Lillian said: “The cycle of violence in our schools is not because students are inherently violent or dangerous, but because of misguidance, carelessness and the all too easy access to things like firearms.”Some days this school year, Lillian’s life has been bookended between homework and news alerts. And, she said there is not always the time to process what has happened and what she often learns about on social media.”You’re expected to see it and just move on, and that’s what we’ve kind of have to dom and that’s what we’ve gotten used to doing — seeing things and moving on,” Lillian told the I-Team. “We understand the gravity of it happening over and over again. It’s kids we could have seen at a football game. It’s kids we could have seen at a football game before. It’s kids we could’ve seen at a lacrosse game or soccer game. We could have made eye contact with them before, and now they’re just gone.”Lillian, wise beyond her years, feels it is time to draw the line as to what the community will tolerate and accept. She talks with her family about what has happened at other schools this year, but she doesn’t think there are enough conversations in the classroom and the community.”The kids our age have a lot of big emotions, and not everyone has the support system or people to help them deal with those emotions,” Lillian told the I-Team.With so much at stake, Lillian wants to know if anyone is listening. Hers is an open letter from a Baltimore City student with much to say, but she is not the only one who asks to be heard.Reading from her letter, Lillian said: “As we grow and change as a city, it will never be easy, but it will be crucial to never stop trying to move forward, to make schools and streets safe, and allow our children to become our tomorrow.”Special: ‘No Minor Crime’ by Deborah Weiner (February 2020, below)
The unsettling wave of violence has impacted many, and often, includes people one might not expect.
The 11 News I-Team’s Deborah Weiner has covered all sides of this issue for decades in Baltimore, but this week, the I-Team examines the so-called “collateral damage” associated with an uptick of youth violence.
As of Monday afternoon, 10 juveniles have been killed so far this year in Baltimore City, compared to eight this time last year. And, non-fatal shootings of juveniles are significantly up with 33 this year, compared to 20 last year.
Baltimore City College High School sophomore Lillian Green, 16, is an aspiring journalist. The I-Team asked her to share her thoughts in writing an open letter to Baltimore City about the urgent issue of youth violence.
“The rising number of violence within city public schools has been unfathomable,” Lillian said, reading from her letter. “If you’re a student, you fear walking through your building. And, if you’re a parent, you wonder if your child will be the next name on the evening news.”
On the outside, everything appears OK with students like Lillian, but just below the surface, there is much to be understood.
“Even the students who aren’t directly affected by it at that school — they might not have known the kid or the kid who did the hurting — but they still feel it, and they see it and they hear it,” Lillian told the I-Team.
Reading from her letter, Lillian said: “The cycle of violence in our schools is not because students are inherently violent or dangerous, but because of misguidance, carelessness and the all too easy access to things like firearms.”
Some days this school year, Lillian’s life has been bookended between homework and news alerts. And, she said there is not always the time to process what has happened and what she often learns about on social media.
“You’re expected to see it and just move on, and that’s what we’ve kind of have to dom and that’s what we’ve gotten used to doing — seeing things and moving on,” Lillian told the I-Team. “We understand the gravity of it happening over and over again. It’s kids we could have seen at a football game. It’s kids we could have seen at a football game before. It’s kids we could’ve seen at a lacrosse game or soccer game. We could have made eye contact with them before, and now they’re just gone.”
Lillian, wise beyond her years, feels it is time to draw the line as to what the community will tolerate and accept. She talks with her family about what has happened at other schools this year, but she doesn’t think there are enough conversations in the classroom and the community.
“The kids our age have a lot of big emotions, and not everyone has the support system or people to help them deal with those emotions,” Lillian told the I-Team.
With so much at stake, Lillian wants to know if anyone is listening. Hers is an open letter from a Baltimore City student with much to say, but she is not the only one who asks to be heard.
Reading from her letter, Lillian said: “As we grow and change as a city, it will never be easy, but it will be crucial to never stop trying to move forward, to make schools and streets safe, and allow our children to become our tomorrow.”
Special: ‘No Minor Crime’ by Deborah Weiner (February 2020, below)
