It starts with us: Addressing Violence Against Youth

Violence doesn’t always take place on battlefields- it happens in our neighborhoods, our classrooms and our homes – places that our youth should feel protected in, yet they are the ones subjected to these attacks.

Violence at School

School is where our youth spend up 62% of their time. At school, they are there to grow, learn and create friendships. This unfortunately isn’t the case for most students who attend school. Often the perpetrator of these violent acts is experiencing violence elsewhere, but other times the violence can be rooted in prejudice. This leads to them releasing this tension on others, and more than often the people they’ll target will be a minority group. These victims will go on to commit suicide, develop types of internal hatred, or do it to someone else, thus continuing the cycle. Don’t just take my word for it though, look at the statistics.

Cameron (“Cam”) Thompson, an 18-year-old Black transgender teenage girl was shot and killed December 16, 2024. Antwon Rose, an unarmed 16 year old black boy was shot June 19, 2018 as a result of police, and as of 2025 56% of indigenous woman experience physical assault, with a further 46% experiencing sexual assault. These people aren’t just numbers – they’re sisters, brothers, parents and teachers and now they’re gone. We can’t brush this off we have to do something about it.

Gang Violence

Gang violence mainly occurs in larger urban areas as well as heavily concentrated areas. Most youth may get involved in gang related activities as a means of protection or social and economic benefits. By being in a gang, you can acquire goods and materials such as drugs and alcohol. Some may find emotional support in gangs and even build familial bonds with members. Gangs mainly attract those of lower social status and those in poverty. Youth in impoverished situations will resort to these gangs if they feel as if their future is helpless and filled with misfortune – they’ll get desperate and view gangs as a more reachable and better alternative. Teens in gangs have to face a lot of the violence and the concequences of being in a gang.

Rival gangs

Death and injury

You may end up dragging friends or family members into it .

Mental issues

Leaving a gang often has consequences, so even if you try to leave, that past will follow you and most gangs will threaten you will violence and even death.

I hope you guys are doing good. I just wanted to speak on this topic because of the recent Charlie Kirk shooting and Celeste Rivas Hernandez’s death. There’s just so much violence everywhere and I want to bring awareness to it.

Thank you for reading