As a youth, I have been told that activism is a hobby

As a youth, I have been told that I am not capable of influencing policy

As a youth, I have been told that gun violence is a grown-up issue

As a youth, I have been told to let the adults continue

As a youth, I have been told to wait my turn

And now it is my turn to be a thorn

In the side of the politicians that fail to realize

The sounds of the cries from the parents getting the phone call that their children have died

All because they simply decided to walk outside

Children are now dying before their parents

And it has left this world mysterious

I ask lawmakers to keep that same energy and start to build some empathy and put away this weaponry

Legislators can you please stop your fake tears and your thoughts and prayers and start changing some policy in those State House chairs

Sorry if it feels like I am calling you out

But maybe that means you should have some doubt in the buyout that you have just received from the NRA right in the middle of our school walkout

I am sorry let me breathe and back off you because I know that you do not like pressure just like I don’t like how children are dying at a rate that leaves my head hurt

And now I am going to go back to my roots and tell my story before the people with money come and put me on mute

I lost my cousin to gun violence and when he died there were no rallies just silence

Simply because he was an ex gang member and the only time people would remember was when his face was in the center of a white t-shirt

When I testify at the statehouse for my rights I do not expect harassment because I am going after the so-called establishment

I’m going to tell you right now, that I am not done and solely because the war on guns has not been won

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Jaychele Schenck read this poem at the Sunday, June 2 Wear Orange event in Providence.