Скачать или смотреть USA: WASHINGTON: NEW INITIATIVE TO CURB TEENAGE VIOLENCE

(25 Apr 1996) English/Nat

In the last five years, the murder rate amongst American teenagers has increased by 165-percent.

A new initiative backed by Vice-President Al Gore and Attorney-General Janet Reno is trying to curb teenage violence - helping both victims and perpetrators.

But the youngsters say they have their own plans to end the violence.

This is daily routine at Washington, D-C's Eastern High School.

A routine for these teenagers which includes metal detectors and mandatory inspections at school doors.

For the principal of this inner-city school, these tough security measures are a sign of the times.

SOUNDBITE:"It has gotten to that point and I'm one of the first ones who realized it has gottent to that point. At one time I could say that I would not be fearful of anything happening here within our schools, but we never know on any given day that something might happen."
SUPER CAPTION: Principal Ralph Neal, Eastern High School

UPSOUND:
"Has anybody ever been shot at. Couple of you."
SUPER CAPTION: Al Gore, US Vice-President

Teenage violence is the focus of this forum hosted in Washington by Vice-President Al Gore.

Just teenagers, these inner-city kids have seen and experienced violence once only reserved for the eyes of soldiers in battle.

SOUNDBITE:
"I felt like one bullet, like, you know how the swift of the wind goes by you. Well, I felt like a bullet passed by me like that, it's kind of hard to believe but that's what I felt."
SUPER CAPTION: Gerardo Mendizabal, American Teenager

The campaign will try to help both victims and perpetrators of violence.

Between 1984 and 1994 the number of juvenile murderers tripled.

For many American teens, the streets have become killing fields, with only a few solutions in sight.

These kids say they need more after school programmes to keep them out of trouble.

And they want more support from their family, teachers and government.

A new campaign has been launched to persuade youngsters to avoid violence. It's called "Squash It", an urban term for walking away from an argument.

Featuring rap stars like Coolio, these new television adverts hope to convince kids it's easier to step away from confrontation than solve it with violence.

UPSOUND:
"Be the solution, squash the anger. Squash it."
SUPERCAPTION: Coolio

Addressing a gathering of police chiefs from across the nation, Attorney General Janet Reno says reducing teen crime starts with the family.

SOUNDBITE:
"Unless we do something about violence in the home we are never going to eliminate it on the streets or the schoos of America."
SUPER CAPTION: US Attorney General Janet Reno

But the real solutions will come from the kids themselves. The kids who experience the fear of violence everyday at places like Eastern High School.

These youngsters say the focus needs to be turned inward and the answers found among themselves.

SOUNDBITE:
"If there's a change going to come, it's going to have to come from us. If, like they say, no one can change us but us or no one can help us but us."
SUPER CAPTION: Bekisha McWilliams, American Teenager

Until then, the metal detectors will stay and many places like Eastern High will continue to look more like prisons than schools.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...