BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — UpStage Theatre presents “Hear our Voices: The Youth Speak” on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Shiloh Baptist Church (185 Eddie Robinson Drive) starting at 12 p.m.
Assistant Director Dameon Hills said violence has a big impact on children. The scenes, music and poetry on Saturday will tell stories of the enduring frustrations, anxieties and wounds from gun violence on children.
Organizers said the vicious cycle traumatizes individuals, families and communities long after the scene is cleared.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, firearm injuries and deaths in the United States have increased in recent years and adversely affect many children and adolescents. In 2020, firearms became the leading cause of death among children ages 19 and below and in the first six months of 2022, there were over 300 mass shootings across the U.S., data showed.
