June 6th, 2025 marked the solemn one-year anniversary of the tragic murder of student Amarr Murphy-Paine at Garfield High School, an occasion that coincided with National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The devastating impact of this violence has deeply affected countless friends and families throughout the city, prompting a collective moment of reckoning for the community.

In response, students organized a walkout at the high school to commemorate the losses and to create a vital space for healing and community support. This gathering served to empower the students to express their profound feelings and demand a safer future. It was a clear demonstration that the larger community cares and that individuals are actively committed to making decisions that will positively impact their lives.

Leading this difficult period with faith, Amarr’s family has embraced a powerful assignment to represent him in the most positive way possible. They are determined to help others recognize that the ongoing gun violence is not a normal part of life, emphasizing the importance of kindness and caring as a means to counteract destruction. Their message urges students to embrace their experiences and transform their pain into reminders of survival and resilience.

Produced by Omari Salisbury, barry johnson, and Deaunte Damper

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