In 2024, youth violence prevention organizations in Indianapolis came together to host the inaugural Peace Walk, where hundreds of attendees gathered to stand up for a safer and more peaceful future.
Gift Akintomide, a senior at Ben Davis University High School, is passionate about social justice and advocacy and a proud member of organizations that champion youth voices, including the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council (MYLC) and Youth Advancement, Resilience, and Innovation (YARI). Akintomide is also a key youth organizer in the second annual Peace Walk event.
“The first [Peace Walk] was to see how many people were actually interested in it. We saw just the amount of success that we had with it: we had hundreds of youth in attendance from different organizations, people who weren’t affiliated with organizations and even grown adults to come and support the youth,” Akintomide said. “We distributed gun lockers and…literally marched through the streets and people got to hear our voices.”
For organizers like Akintomide, the natural next step was to make this event an annual occurrence.
“[This year] we’re trying to make it more catered to more people. So, having the amount of people that are going to show up and having youth voices being showcased is really going to help show what the entire event is about,” Akintomide said.
The second annual Peace Walk, titled “Stand on Peace,” will be hosted on Friday, April 25from 6-8 p.m.. It is planned for late April in honor of National Youth Violence Prevention Week, a tradition founded by the Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club in 2001.
In addition to the walk itself, attendees can expect an opening program, followed by speeches and performances from local activists, youth leaders, public figures and local artists. The organizations hosting the walk will be stationed at tables with resources and onsite mental health support and services will be available for those who need it. Dinner will also be provided at the event, as organizers are hosting a cookout.
Organizers also plan to set up positive messaging poster boards and postcards for attendees to write on and leave encouraging messages regarding the fight for peace and reduced violence.
“A lot of people have different reasons, but for me, the importance [of this event is] allowing youth to know the resources that are available for them, the people that are there for them, and the people that they can go to when they’re in times of crisis,” Akintomide said.
The hosting organizations include Genesys Solutions, Hoosiers Concerned About Gun Violence, Indy Public Safety Foundation, the Indy Peace Fellowship, the Marion County Commission on Youth, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council, New B.O.Y., Peace Learning Center and VOICES Corp.
These organizations are both youth-led and adult-led, allowing space for a cross-generational collaboration. This allows mentorship and guidance from those who are more experienced, as well as innovation and growth for youth.
“Having this sort of interaction allows us as youth to hear from the grown adults and hear their perspectives. Because I feel that to grow as a society, not just in this planning process, it’s good to hear from each other and build that relationship,” Akintomide said.
There was a particular urgency in planning this event, organizers said, as they are concerned about the rising number of youth violence-related incidents, specifically those caused by gun violence. According to a 2022 report by the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, firearms were the leading cause of death for children and teens aged one to 17, with 2,526 children and teens dying by a firearm in 2022, averaging 7 deaths a day. In total, 48,204 lives (including children, teens and adults) were lost to gun violence in 2022, with over 50% of these firearm deaths due to suicide.
Shortly after being inaugurated for his second presidential term, President Donald Trump dismantled the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This office, established in 2023, was created to reduce homicides nationwide, prevent illegitimate gun dealers from selling firearms, develop a response team for mass shootings and improve and enforce a comprehensive background check system.
Advocates for common-sense gun legislation found this dismantling to be a regression in the efforts to reduce violence impacting children and teens, particularly those from disadvantaged communities.
Statistics show that gun violence prevention is not a partisan issue, but rather a human rights crisis. According to research conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2017, 84% of Americans – whether Democrats, Republicans or third-party voters – favor background checks for private gun sales, and 81% oppose concealed carry without a permit.
Ultimately, this event is an opportunity to build community, network and stand up for peace. While the previous event was predominantly attended by high schoolers, this year’s organizers wish to see more college students ready for action.
“Don’t shy away from something just because it’s something scary or controversial…You have to know when to speak up. You don’t have to run for mayor. You don’t have to run for governor. You don’t have to go for president. You can start small, speak with people, form connections,” Akintomide said.
Those interested in attending can RSVP for the event and show up to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park on 601 E 17th Street at 6 PM on Friday, April 25th.
The walking route will start at the Landmark for Peace Memorial. The route is roughly three miles in length and will circle back to the starting point.
Salsabil F. Qaddoura is an undergraduate student on a pre-law track and a copy editor for The Campus Citizen. She is passionate about public service and volunteerism to better our communities and the world.
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