Officials urge kids to "say no" to guns

Bradley sponsors "day of concern," 1996

By Steven T. Walker

While playing video games with his cousin in a Newark deli, 9-year-old Radee Thompson's life was changed forever.

Radee and 7-year-old natasha Thompson were wounded May 29 when thugs sprayed the store with gunfire. Radee suffered a pierced liver and collapsed lung. Natasha was hit in the shoulder.

"More kids need to leave guns alone, because no guns are good," the bashful third-grader said yesterday.

Radee joined Sen. Bill bradley (D-NJ), Paterson Mayor William Pascrell, University Hospitals officals and community activists in Newark yesterday in speaking out against the high incidence of gun violence among youngsters in urban areas. At University Hospital, plans were announced for school children across the country to pledge to forsake gun violence on a day of national concern.

"Violence involving young people is occuring at an epidemic proportion," Bradley said. "By meeting today, we are trying to turn around the culture of youngsters and show that a crisis exists and that we must stop the violence."

In an attempt to draw some attention to youth violence, the Senate on August 2 passed a resolution sponsored by Bradley delaring November 6th a "Day of Naitonal Concern about Young Peple and Gun Violence." The senator said yesterday's event served as a prelude to the day.

"If we literally have thousands of young people on Oct. 10 across the country raising their hands and taking the pledge...then we will have begun," said Bradley.

Dr. Robert Johnson, director of UMDNJ's division on adolescent and young adult medicine, echoed Bradley's concerns.

"Health care has to expand beyond simply sewing things up and taking care of wounds for this to end," said Johnson, whose division sponsors outreach programs in Newark, Orange and Paterson. "We have to end this cycle of violence," Johnson said. "If it does not end and we [do not] get the weapons off the street, we are headed towards the doom and mayhem that will ultimately destroy all of us."

Hashim Garrett, a 20-year-old victim of a drive-by shooting and a violence prevention coordinator for the Kessler Institute in West Orange, said he lost the use of his legs when he was shot six times while talking to a friend in Brooklyn. Now a junior at Rutgers University in new Brunswick, Garrett said more youngsters have to participate in anti-violence efforts. He said youngsters and adults should participate in pre-conflict programs and treat violence as a health hazard, not just isolated incidents.

"Its better to walk away (from arguments) so you can live another day," said Garrett, who spoke from a wheelchair." Learn how to deal with your anger. I know it's hard to do that sometimes because you don't want to be disrespected, but sometimes you do have to listen to your parents."

As Radee and Natasha recover from their wounds, 20-year-old Ahmad Hughes and 18-year-old Raymond Parish await a September court date on charges of second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.