WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Community members gathered Saturday for a rally to end gun violence in Winston-Salem after the Mt. Tabor High School shooting left one student dead.
There was emotional testimony from students, law enforcement, and other community members. Some who spoke said there need to be more activities outside of school to keep children away from gangs and potentially chaotic homes.
One of the event organizers, Olivia Moore, says that even though she isn't an Mt. Tabor student, the shooting affects all students.
"I'm not outside of this situation, because on Monday I have to walk inside of a school, on Monday I have to sit inside of a classroom, on Monday I have to walk inside of halls."
Moore says they wanted to allow multiple voices to speak today but also remember the victim, William Miller Jr.
Multiple organizations help bring the event together, but people there said it will take collective action for change to happen.
"We need more than separate organizations all working privately nine to five," said Eden Williamson. "We need this 24/7. We need it all the time or nothings going to change because these shootings happen when nobody's there."
Others said there need to be more activities outside of the school to keep children away from gangs and violence.
"They need more recreation centers, they need more stuff open for these kids to do," said Shannon Clark, the mother of the shooting victim. "All of (these) guns (and) all of that they need to put that stuff down. Guns kill people."