Benton Harbor High School students taking 90-day peace pledge over the summer

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- Approximately 400 Benton Harbor High School students took a 90-day peace pledge on Friday in which they vowed to avoid violence and confrontations throughout summer vacation.

Five members of a student group called “Peace for Life” hosted a press conference in the school’s auditorium on Friday to vocalize the mission of the pledge to avoid violence.

"My cousin lost his life in June of 2020 due to gun violence, so my message overall today is just the community as a whole. I think we all need to do better, because nobody deserves to lose their life. He didn't get a chance to live his full life and live up to his full potential. He didn't even get a chance to graduate yet and that's why this year, me being a senior, that's why graduating is important to me as it is, because he didn't get to,” said Ja’Marione Evans, senior at Benton Harbor High School.

The whole student body will host their school’s 10th Annual Peace Day celebration, as well as a march, on June 10, the final day of the school year.