Youngstown students take peace pledge

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

Youngstown

Three members of Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past urged Williamson Elementary School children to take a peace pledge.

“Apply it to the rest of your life,” said Alexis Shellow, a senior at Chaney High School who is part of Sojourn. “Put it in a place where you can see it, and read it every day.”

The workshop was part of Nonviolence Week, started by Sojourn students and running through Saturday. Sojourn to the Past is a 10-day trip to sites of the Civil Rights Movement in the South. Penny Wells, Sojourn director, writes grants and organizes fundraisers to help pay for students’ trips.

The idea for Nonviolence Week came from Sojourn students who made the trip a few years ago, and it’s grown each year.

The Peace Pledge distributed to Williamson students Thursday is from the Victory Over Violence organization.

Students pledge to

“respect all life. Recognizing that violence comes in many forms, I will not isolate myself but will create an environment where others feel comfortable and can be themselves,” it reads. “I will see beyond superficial differences and reflect on my own behavior.”

“Nonviolence is a way to think different,” said Janae Ward, a senior at Chaney.

“We have to think differently to be nonviolent,” she said.

Greg Jones, a Youngs-town State University junior, encouraged students not to be silent witnesses when they see something happening that’s wrong.

He held up a photograph of Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine, the nine black students who, in 1957, first integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Ark.

The photo shows the young Eckford being

followed by a crowd, some of them yelling at her.

“They were screaming mean things to her,” Greg said. “Imagine how that made her feel.”

Only two people were nice to her, he said.

Sojourn students asked the Williamson children what they could do if they saw someone being bullied.

“Stick up for them,” said one student.

“Comfort them,” offered another.

By doing those things, the students may really help someone.

“You might be someone’s hope some day,” Janae said.