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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