U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Over 27,000 Students to Pledge Against Gun Violence
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina
Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2100
COLUMBIA, SC----United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced that on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, members of the United States Attorney’s Office and their local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will meet with students from across South Carolina, as part of South Carolina’s 14th annual Student Pledge Against Gun Violence.
With a focus on keeping their schools and communities safe, students in middle school and high school will sign a voluntary pledge promising that they will never take a gun to school, will never resolve a dispute with a gun, and will use their influence to prevent friends from using guns to resolve disputes. Elementary school children will make a simpler commitment, pledging that if they see a gun they will not touch it, they will assume that any gun they see might be loaded, and they will tell a teacher or a trusted adult.
The effort is part of South Carolina’s Project CeaseFire, which is South Carolina’s implementation of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which is aimed at reducing gun violence. The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence is a national program that recognizes the role that young people, through their own decisions, can play in reducing gun violence. This campaign against youth gun violence culminates each October in a “Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence.” The program provides a means for beginning the conversation with young people about gun violence. Students from around the country will join together in pledging to do their part to end gun violence. Over the years, millions of students nationwide have signed the pledge.
Mr. Nettles said that, just as in years past, the response to the pledge campaign has been outstanding, with approximately 27, 832 students from 60 schools across the state agreeing to take part. "Our office is pleased to take this opportunity to reach out to South Carolina students with an effort to engage students, teachers, and administrators to facilitate a dialogue with students about gun violence and the importance of making good decisions," stated Mr. Nettles.
The U.S. Attorney's Office worked with schools, student resource officers, and law enforcement agencies throughout the state to make the pledges available, providing the pledges to participating schools as well as scheduling presentations for some 28 of the schools that requested speakers. Below is a list of South Carolina schools that are participating in this year's pledge. For information on any events scheduled for a particular school, please contact the school. For additional information concerning the pledge, visit the national Student Pledge website at www.pledge.org
Participating Schools:
Airport High School James Island High School
West Columbia, SC Charleston, SC
Arden Elementary School Joseph Keels Elementary School
Columbia, SC Columbia, SC
Augusta Circle Elementary School La France Elementary School
Greenville, SC Pendleton, SC
Allendale-Fairfax Middle School Lakeview Middle School
Fairfax, SC Greenville, SC
Allendale-Fairfax High School Lamar Elementary School
Fairfax, SC Darlington, SC
Baptist Hills Middle High School Lamar High School
Charleston, SC Darlington, SC
Barnwell 45 Elementary School Lincoln Middle-High School
Barnwell, SC McClellanville, SC
Bridge Creek Elementary School Luther Vaughn Elementary School
Elgin, SC Gaffney, SC
Brockington Elementary School Macedonia Middle School
Darlington, SC Moncks Corner, SC
Brookdale Elementary School Malcolm C. Hursey Elementary School
Orangeburg, SC North Charleston, SC
Carolina School for Inquiry Manning Elementary School
Columbia, SC Manning, SC
Carvers Bay Middle School Mary Bramlett Elementary School
Hemingway, SC Gaffney, SC
Central Elementary School Mayewood Middle School
Central, SC Sumter, SC
Clay Hill Elementary School Myrtle Beach High School
Ridgeville, SC Myrtle Beach, SC
Croswell Drive Elementary School Mitchell Math and Science Elementary School
Sumter, SC Charleston, SC
Dent Middle School Mullins High School
Columbia, SC Mullins, SC
Douglas Elementary School Northwest Elementary School
Trenton, SC Gaffney, SC
East Elementary School Northwest Middle School
Dillon, SC Travelers Rest, SC
Fairfax Elementary School Ocean Drive Elementary School
Fairfax, SC North Myrtle Beach, SC
Forestbrook Middle School Orange Grove Elementary Charter School
Myrtle Beach, SC Charleston,SC
Goucher Elementary School Orange Grove Middle Charter School
Gaffney, SC Charleston, SC
Greenville Tech Charter High School Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School
Greenville, SC Orangeburg, SC
Hampton Elementary School Petersburg Primary School
Hampton, SC Pageland, SC
Hand Middle School Pine Grove Elementary School
Columbia, SC Columbia, SC
Hemingway M.B. Lee Middle School Powdersville Middle School
Hemingway, SC Powdersville, SC
High Hills Elementary School Rollings Middle School
Shaw AFB, SC Summerville, SC
Holly Hill Elementary School South Elementary School
Holly Hill, SC Dillon, SC
Hopkins Middle School Spaulding Middle School
Columbia, SC Dillon, SC
Horrell Hill Elementary School Summerville Elementary School
Hopkins, SC Summerville, SC
J. K. Gourdin Elementary School Travelers Rest High School
Pineville, SC Travelers Rest, SC
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Updated October 16, 2015
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