HLS-Bound Miss America Talks on Guns

BOSTON—Miss America and future Harvard Law School student Erika Harold teamed up with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino yesterday to celebrate two events aimed at preventing youth violence.

Yesterday had been designated the National Day of Concern about Young People and Gun Violence, and students across the country signed pledges promising that they will never contribute to gun violence.

To mark the event, Menino and Harold spoke to a star-struck group of Mission Hill schoolchildren about ways to prevent violence in their communities.

The talk, which took place at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), was also a prelude to tonight’s Boston Peace Party, where the HSPH Youth Violence Prevention Center will honor 28 Boston community leaders for their efforts in stemming violence.

Menino said that efforts at stemming gun violence need to address cutting off the supply of firearms.

“No one asks where people get these guns,” said Menino.

In addition, he said, the way to solve the problem is teaching people about violence.

“The way to change the patterns of violence is education and more education,” he said.

Harold told the students that they had the power to stop the pattern of violence.

“We need to explore the reasons why kids resort to guns,” she said. “You cannot wait for adults or policymakers, you have to do it.”

Harold then led the students in reciting and signing the pledge against gun violence.

As a special treat, she added her autograph to all of the students’ pledges and let students try on her tiara.

“Everyone should have a Miss America moment,” she told the students as they donned the crown.

Youth violence has been a particularly important issue for both Harold and Menino. Harold’s platform during her reign as Miss America centers on youth violence.

Menino said he has had many encounters with successful adults who had turned their lives after leading violent pasts as adolescents in gangs.

“Intervention makes a great difference in straightening out their lives,” Menino said.

The honorees tonight were nominated through and selected by the Boston community groups with which the Youth Violence Prevention Center has partnerships.

—Staff writer Maria S. Pedroza can be reached at mpedroza@fas.harvard.edu.