DISTRICT ATTORNEY DIFIORE TO KICK OFF 2008 NATIONAL SAFE SCHOOLS WEEK WITH ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE WORKSHOPS

In honor of the 2008 National Safe Schools Week, the Westchester County District Attorney’s office will be presenting anti-gun violence workshops to middle and high schools students throughout lower Westchester County.

On October 22, 2008, District Attorney Janet DiFiore, in partnership with Yonkers Public School Superintendent Bernard P. Pierorazio and Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. W.L. "Tony" Sawyer, will kick off National Day of Concern 2008 by speaking to student leaders at Mount Vernon High School at 1:15 PM and at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers at 3:15 PM.

District Attorney DiFiore will address her concern for the well being of young people and the threat posed by gun violence. She will discuss the importance of protecting children against violent crime, the legal and medical ramifications of possessing illegal handguns and the role that young people can play in reducing gun violence.

Students will be asked to discuss and sign a Student Pledge Against Gun Violence, making an earnest promise never to take a gun to school, never to use a gun to settle a dispute and to use their influence to keep their friends from using guns.

Throughout the week, Assistant District Attorneys will travel to middle schools in Yonkers and Mount Vernon, meeting with over 3,000 eighth graders in anti-gun violence workshops.

“While I am proud of the efforts my office has put forth to combat youth gun violence, we can not do it alone,” said Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore. “Young people need to know they have the support of their parents, teachers, religious and community leaders, businesses and youth organizations in the shared responsibility to help keep our neighborhoods and schools safe. Join me in this effort to show young people that gun violence is not the answer. Our children need to understand that acting responsibly when confronted by peer pressure and encouraging friends to resolve conflicts peacefully, saves lives.”

Superintendent of Yonkers Schools, Bernard P. Pierorazio, said, “As a community, we must remain vigilant about our children’s safety, both in school and at home. This takes an environment where young adults are encouraged to communicate with school and law officials. We must also provide our children with the tools to say no to violence, to say no to guns, and to take responsibility for their actions.

The National Day of Concern heightens our awareness; in Yonkers, I am confident that our eighth graders who participated in the CARGO program through the District Attorney’s Office will carry this important message to their older and younger peers in the community.”

"The Mount Vernon City School District welcomes District Attorney Janet DiFiore speaking to Mount Vernon students on this very important issue," said W. L. "Tony" Sawyer, Superintendent of Mount Vernon Schools. "We must work together to ensure our children remain safe and make good decisions. Those students who sign the pledge can serve as ambassadors to their peers and continue the message of embracing education and shunning violence."

About National Safe Schools Week

National Safe Schools Week is held each fall to help students, teachers, parents and administrators raise awareness around the urgent need to protect our schools from violence.

This year, National Safe Schools Week will take place from October 19-25, 2008. During National Safe Schools Week, schools and communities across America will focus their attentions on the importance of empowering youth to prevent violence in the places where they learn and socialize. With the support of several national organizations, including national leaders in the fields of education, violence prevention and school safety, National Safe Schools Week events bring together key school and community members, who are concerned about protecting youth.

About National Day of Concern and the Student Pledge

The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence began in 1996, supported by unanimous U.S. Senate Resolution and Presidential Proclamation, both calling for a Day of National Concern about Young People and Gun Violence and national distribution of the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence.

Since 1996, more than ten million students nationwide have signed the Pledge. Each year, the Day of Concern overlaps with National Safe Schools Week during the third week of October. A copy of the pledge can be found at http://www.pledge.org.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 1 million students across America take a weapon to school each month, and over 1.3 million students are injured or threatened with a weapon at school each year. Together we can combat this growth by initiating a dialogue with students about weapons and violence in schools and by encouraging them to take a stand against violence.