Buffalo Public School students are standing up against violence with the signing of a historic 'Peace Pledge.' WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley says students from Kindergarten through 12th grade made their commitment Thursday to promote peace.
Students at the Grabiarz School of Excellence in Buffalo recited the Buffalo School's Peace Builder's Pledge. They stood together inside their school in front of a large display of their own artwork -- colorful peace signs.
The schools are partnering with U.S. Attorney William Hochul, Buffalo Police and the Stop the Violence Coalition to promote peace.
"These students are pledging to make the right choices," said Hochul.
Hochul noted students are going beyond just a signature on the pledge. They are participating in ways to promote peace.
"These students, though, are not just signing this pledge, which will put them on the road to success in life, but also taking a leadership in helping to promote the virtues of peace and non-violence," stated Hochul.
Grabiarz 4th grader Daniel Broadus was selected to speak.
"I pledge to use my words to speak in a kind way," said Broadus. "I pledge to do my part and to create peace for one and all. Be the change you want to see in the world."
Broadus has a very personal and powerful story. His grandmother was killed by gun violence in Buffalo three years ago when Broadus he was only seven.
"My grandmother got killed by a gunshot and I'm so sad," said Broadus. "Stop killing people, do the right thing, stop robbing, stop killing and just be kind to others."
Broadus said his mother and grandmother were "very close" and it broke his mother heart.
This peace pledge is designed for students to say no to guns, drugs and bullying and promote peace, good choices and tolerance. Promoting non-violence at an early age is key, preventing it from spreading into teenage years.
At Riverside High School on the city's West Side students rolled out a huge paper banner with dozens of signatures.
Stop the Violence Coalition President Murray Holman joined the students. "Making sure it is safe -- that non-violence is the issue," said Holman. "We want to push to our community -- all through the city of Buffalo."
Riverside students held Peace Week with a number of activities including Random Acts of Kindness created by junior Joshue Cruz.
"I came up with the Random Acts of Kindness thing, which was to have, basically, students going around, helping teachers out," said Cruz.
Teens say their promoting peace appeared to be working.
"I've noticed, like the school is way more peaceful. Everybody is very kind," said Aubrey Heske, a junior at Riverside. "Just for this week, we should expand it."
-zUHElLpNIM
Emanuel Fuentes, a junior, said Riverside has had its share of issues and students come from difficult neighborhoods.
"There's a lot of bad neighborhoods and when we come to school, we don't want to bring that bad negativity to school, so just bring the kindness or just bring it to a neighborhood and hopefully we can stop it there too," said Fuentes.
Buffalo Police also joined students and signed the pledge along with school officials and the U.S. Attorney. WBFO News asked Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of operations Kimberly Beaty how this is different that other programs in city schools.
"I think it's different because what happens in the schools actually flows out into our neighborhoods and kids come from all different neighborhoods to go to different schools, so what happen in schools we don't want it to have a negative effect on our neighborhoods, so we want to keep our schools and neighborhoods safe," said Beaty.
Riverside students designed and sold peace buttons -- some that say "No Hate". They proudly delivered the proceeds to the Stop of the Violence Coalition.
Friday at Riverside, students end their Peace Week with "'positive message day." Grabiarz students fourth graders performed a peace song.
