RCSD students march for peace

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Students at Flower City School 54 led the way in a peace march Thursday.

The rally caps off a week of activities with the group Save Rochester focused on restorative programs. The students, peace activists and local representatives joined the rally. Students were encouraged to be the change that they want to see in their neighborhoods.

"When the kids speak out people tend to start listening so we want to empower these kids. we want to give them a platform. We want to give them voice to be the change in our community," said Arc of Justice Rochester President Justin Morris.

Students took part in a pep rally before heading out into the neighborhood with their teachers and members of the community. Most of the with signs saying "We Want Peace," or "Peace and Love."

"Our kids, it’s amazing how they’re coming together," said Speech-Language Pathologist Shannon Warden. "Really sad these kids are desensitized to this. They’re scared and it’s showing in other ways. They may not always verbalize it, but they’re acting out."

Along the way, students stopped at the spot where 17-year-old Bryson Simpson was fatally shot last month.

"As you can see it happened within blocks of a school. That young man was getting off of a school bus. So we know that violence has no barriers," Morris said.

They marched for several more blocks before returning back to school. News10NBC asked Special Education Teacher Vandell Marshal what it means to have these young students participate in this type of march. He said children know more than what we give them credit for.

"When children are talking, as adults we need to learn to listen cause they’re telling us what we should know. We may not understand the verbiage, but we should listen, and what you don’t know, learn how to ask questions," Marshal said.

Police and the US Marshals task force are searching for the man who they believe killed Simpson, Salahuddin Floyd Jr.

So far this year, 78 people have been shot; 16 of them fatally.

The most recent homicide was on Sunday night in a plaza on North Goodman Street.

According to RPD’s Open Data Portal, as of this time last year, there were 75 shooting victims and 13 of them were killed.

Last year was Rochester’s deadliest year on record.