FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Armed with what they say is their strongest weapon on Monday, community leaders turned to prayer. The community came together inside Mount Olive Baptist Church to combat a growing problem: Bullying.
“We are sick and tired of our young people dying,” said Mark Carter who is a church member and founder of Stop the Violence, Walk of Praise. “And not getting a full education in school.”
As a group of community leaders and parents spoke, a ninth grader sat in the back pews of the church and listened.
“I want it all to stop before it gets out of hand and before someone gets hurt,” says the 15-year-old, who didn’t want to be on camera nor use his name.
He did want to share his story –– the teen said he’s been bullied for the past two years.
“Kids being racists, pushing me, putting their hands on me,” he said. “It’s made me feel horrible; it’s made me feel depressed sometimes I don’t want to go to school at all I don’t want to face those kids.”
Carter insists the problem is homegrown, saying, “If the parents can help us at home with the kids, making sure they are on point when they leave home for school or church or even going to community store hopefully we can stop the violence.”
The group says they wanted to start the meetings inside the church because they hoped to get congregations involved. They want to start saying prayers for the families dealing with bullying.
Carter says they are working on a rally before school is out.
They hope to meet more families dealing with bullying and plan to work with those families this summer.
