Summer of Peace Anti-Gun Violence Conference and Peace Rally
Friday, April 22nd, 2022
On April 21, 2022, at 10 am, government leaders, music industry executives, and civic organizations will join together to launch the 1st Annual Summer of Peace Anti-Gun Violence Initiative in a joint press conference at the historic South-View Cemetery to combat the teen and youth gun violence plaguing Atlanta. Elected leaders and law enforcement will call for "100 Days of Peace" for teens and youth in advance of the anticipated spike in violence that precedes the start of summer break for high school students.
Thursday’s press conference will promote the 1st Annual Summer of Peace Anti-Gun Violence Conference and Rally, a signature event of the Fulton County Probate Court, the Fulton County Solicitor's Office, and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. The event will host over 500 teens from Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools in a day of anti-violence programming using music, local entertainers, and influencers as a backdrop to anti-violence messaging. The private event will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2022, on the campus of Clark Atlanta University, a historically black college located in the inner city of Atlanta, Georgia. Music performances and celebrity appearances are confirmed to attend.
The 1st annual Summer of Peace Anti-Gun Violence Conference and Rally brings together a judge, a prosecutor, and a sheriff, along with local public-school systems, top local criminal justice agencies, and an elite group of music industry professionals who will engage youth on solutions to stop gun violence in their communities. In addition, the May 5th event will feature “Peace Talks” with a celebrity host, and the students will take a Peace Pledge and visit the on-site college & summer career fair. Event features include performances, giveaways, and student scholarships.
"It is important for those in the justice system to speak directly to teens disproportionately affected by gun violence when school ends for the summer," states Judge Kenya Johnson. "Together, we are calling for an end to all street conflicts and gun violence so that we can all get back to enjoying outside this summer."
While much attention has been focused nationally on the Pandemic since 2020, communities across the country have had to endure a substantial increase in gun violence and death among teens. President Biden refers to our nation's gun violence as a "public health epidemic" and “national embarrassment,” which has prompted forward-thinking leaders to find solutions for communities and youth. To answer the call to reduce the surge in gun violence, particularly among youth, Fulton County Probate Judge Kenya Johnson and Fulton County Solicitor General Keith Gammage, along with title sponsors, Slutty Vegan Productions and the Pinky Cole Foundation, the Buckhead/Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and a host of celebrities will present the 1st Annual Summer of Peace Anti - Gun Violence Conference and Rally.
"Having been raised in Atlanta during the stop the violence movement of the 80s and now an elected prosecutor, it is imperative that the residents of Fulton County and the state know that their safety is an ongoing process and is our number one priority, said Keith Gammage, Solicitor General of Fulton County."
