U.S. Based Anti-Youth Violence Group Condemns School Shooting in Germany

U.S. Based Anti-Youth Violence Group Condemns School Shooting in Germany Warns That More Incidents Will Follow If U.S. And Other Countries Dont Teach Kids How To Resolve Conflict Peacefully

For immediate release
Contact: Sarah Ingersoll
(202) 329-6070
April 26, 2002


U.S. Based Anti-Youth Violence Group Condemns School Shooting in Germany


Warns That More Incidents Will Follow If U.S. And Other Countries Dont Teach Kids How To Resolve Conflict Peacefully

Washington, DC- (April 26, 2002) --- Today, the National Campaign Against Youth Violence (NCAYV) warned that in the tragic wake of the school shooting in Germany, we are likely to continue to see such incidents around the world and here in the U.S. if we dont take immediate steps to teach young people how to resolve conflict peacefully. This year in the United States, two out of every three kids will be threatened with a weapon, beaten up or bullied.

As disheartening as this is to witness, it is more disheartening to know that we have done little in the wake of Columbine to stop future violence in school yards," says Sarah Ingersoll, Executive Director for NCAYV. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims of this despicable act. Our pleas go out to all Americans to call on our leaders to take immediate measures to prevent such tragedies in the future."

Violence remains the single greatest threat to the health and safety of young people in the U.S. Each day more than 14,000 young people are victims of violent acts: bullying, fights, taunting, cliques, harassment, hate crimes, assaults, beatings, stabbings, injuries, rape, shootings, suicides, homicides. An average of ten Americans under the age of 19 are murdered each day. In Philadelphia alone, more than 400 firearms and 336 knives were confiscated during the 1999-2000 school year.

Robert F.X. Sillerman, Executive Chairman, FXM, and member of the NCAYV Board, says, Youth violence must stop. Through NCAYV, concerned people in the music and entertainment industry are marshalling their resources to communicate to adults and youth this critical message."

The National Campaign Against Youth Violence is a 501(c)3 organization founded on a simple premise: solutions exist to greatly reduce youth violence in our country. NCAYVs unique role is to use the nations creative communications resources to increase awareness of, and investment in, solutions. NCAYV efforts include a national media campaign, and national events such as concerts and movie screenings, including Saturday Out Loud -- a local event, staged in malls across the country, that rallies youth to action through a concert, forum, fashion show, web pledge, and sports activity.

Attention Editors: There are many programs across the United States working to end youth violence. If you would like more information about local programs operating in your area contact Sarah Ingersol.