Efforts to combat youth gun violence in metro Atlanta

ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta government leaders and community activists are grappling with how to combat youth gun violence.

Groups gathered at the Metropolitan Library to discuss the recent shootings and hopefully ways to prevent the violence from escalating. It’s a multi-county effort.

Speakers included DeKalb County Social Worker Shannon Butler, Atlanta Board of Education member Eshe Collins, Fort Valley State sophomore Kenneth Palmer, community activist Winston Taylor, Hope Hustlers CEO Leonard Dungee, criminal justice professor Volkan Topalli, and ATL Care founder Erik Wilder. Peace Champions hosted the event.

Some people have also been personally affected by gun violence. Betty Maddox lost her son.

“He was shot on this street, Metropolitan, in 1993 by a 16-year-old,” Maddox said.

Yolander Ford lost her 9-year-old son, Nigel Brown, to gun violence in Albany.

“He was in his bed, asleep,” Ford said. “And a stray bullet came through his window.”

Marlin Johnson also lost his 23-year-old son, D’re Johnson, to gunshot wounds on Commerce Drive.

“He died on the spot,” Johnson said.

In late June, the U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory declaring gun violence a public health crisis. It’s a message advocates like Dungee have been repeating for years.

“It’s an epidemic,” Dungee said. “It’s not just gang wars anymore. It’s people killing people now because everybody has a gun.”

Dungee puts young people first. He has recovered from his criminal past and is constantly on the ground helping them solve their problems.

Johnson is also calling for action.

“We have to be a resource,” Johnson said. “We have to have safe spaces… We have to stop judging people. Their souls are on the line.”

Participants discussed a 10-point plan. The groups hope that talking directly with children, meeting those most at risk where they are and asking them what they need will help make a difference before it’s too late.

“This is not just a mental health issue, but it’s a public health issue,” Dungee said. “We have to treat it like a disease. We have to stop the transmission. We have to prevent the spread and change social and group norms, just like we did with COVID.”

Dungee said this is simply Atlanta’s version of the work being done across the country. He added that making the plan a reality will require faith leaders, academic institutions, the media and business partnerships.

Leaders also suggested that communities experiencing violence should not be labeled as dangerous, but rather that plans should be put in place to address the needs of each community.