"I Will Not Die Young" campaign: Vincent High School students make the pledge to live

MILWAUKEE -- "I Will Not Die Young." With an increasing level of shootings in our area, those are powerful words coming from hundreds of high school students in Milwaukee. At Vincent High School on Friday, June 3rd it was a sobering presentation that caused students to make that pledge.

Students at Vincent High School had no idea what they were walking into at the school assembly on Friday.

Kwabena Nixon, with the "I Will Not Die Young Campaign," gave FOX6 News a preview of how they'll bring home the consequences for actions.

"I was in a fight and man, I stole a car, etc. But you never show the other side that some mother is going to bury her child or some father is going to bury his child. We have to put the humanity back into it," said Nixon.

I Will Not Die Young Campaign

They did it with the unexpected.

A presenter spoke at the assembly: "Picture your mommy screaming and crying out your name, 'My baby.' Picture you being able to hear her words, but you can't respond to her words because now you're dead."

Many of the students are somewhat affected by death. When asked if any knew someone who died of gunshot wounds, just about all of the hands went up.

I Will Not Die Young Campaign

The presentation comes just as school is about to be out for summer.

Kwabena Nixon

Nixon says the goal is to keep it from being a hot summer -- not just temperature-wise but temperament as well.

"We believe if we can get in front of it. Create a movement, not a moment that young people can get swept into it. Them signing a sheet that says I will not die young is a direct act," said Nixon.

Students were asked to sign a large sheet that said, "I Want To Live." It was voluntary -- but it appeared few did not sign it.

This was the third MPS high school the "I Will Not Die Young Campaign" visited this week. Before the Vincent students signed the pledge of peace, 1,000 had already done so.

I Will Not Die Young Campaign