By Dan Snyder, Adam Fox
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Many people in Philadelphia have seen the impact of gun violence up close and personal. Presley Barner, 18, from West Philadelphia, is one of them.
“Three years ago, my cousin was gunned down at a 7/11,” Barner said. “Honestly, I still go through it today. My whole family still goes through it.”
But on Monday, Presley and others like her were trying to turn that pain into change. She and five teams of more than 30 young people from across the city made their pitches for social media campaigns to get people to put down their guns. So far this year, 90 children under the age of 18 have been shot, including nine fatally.
“What we do is try to change the culture around ‘Is it really cool to have a gun?’ We’re seeing young people go to jail and prison every day for doing retaliatory things,” said Kendra Van de Water, who is the co-founder of YEAHPhilly.
The “Guns Change the Story” campaign is a partnership between local community groups, like YEAHPhilly, CHOP, Unity in the Community and more, and the national anti-violence group “Project Unloaded.” Teams were given six weeks and $2,500 to produce videos showing the impact gun violence has on communities and young people.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-shooting-gun-violence-social-media-campaigns/