BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that students across the City of Buffalo are taking a stand against violence and promoting peace.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with the Buffalo School District, Buffalo Police and the Stop the Violence Coalition for Peace Pledge Day. Students in grades Kindergarten through 12 are signing a Peace Builder’s Pledge or taking part in some other anti-violence activity.
“All residents in our community, including the very youngest, are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “These students today, from the young five year old kindergartener to the 17 year old high school senior, are taking the brave step of saying no to guns and yes to peace; no to drugs and yes to good choices; and no to bullying and yes to tolerance."
U.S. Attorney Hochul, along with Buffalo Schools Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services Will Keresztes, Buffalo Police Chief Kim Beaty and Stop the Violence Coalition President Murray Holman visited Riverside High School. Students there designed, produced and sold non-violence buttons that read “NO H8," “no room in my heart for VIOLENCE," NO HATE," and “NO HATE JUST LOVE." Proceeds from the button sale are being donated to the Stop the Violence Coalition.
Peace Week events at Riverside also included a random acts of kindness day and wear olive green to symbolize peace day. Student Aubrey Heske stated “Friday is our Spread Positive Messages Day that was inspired by the positive post-it notes movement and the “You are beautiful" billboards across Western New York.
The U.S. Attorney, Superintendent, Chief and Mr. Holman also visited PS #97 where students in grades K-12 signed a peace pledge vowing to honor the pledge and make our community safer for all.
U.S. Attorney Hochul further stated “Each of these students has the power within them to be a peacemaker. I commend them for taking this stand because, even at their age, such actions will go a long way in having a positive impact in our community."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
