Lynn student posters target gangs, racism and violence

LYNN – The winning student poster says it all without words – street gang members wearing blue hats and bandanas face off with those in red clothing, a black handgun protruding with the promise of deadly violence.Ongoing warfare between the Crips and Bloods in Lynn has caused headaches for police and law-abiding residents.It is among the city’s most prevalent problems, which is why it was the subject of the winning poster in a contest involving more than 3,000 middle school students from Lynn, Swampscott and Marblehead.The top three posters – all by student artists at the Thurgood Marshall Middle School – are on display in Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy’s office, while dozens of others grace the City Hall lobby.”The kids were asked to identify a problem and offer a solution,” said Wendy Joseph, a member of the committee that brought award-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr. to Lynn earlier this week to talk to middle school students about his Eracism Foundation, or how to rid the world of racist attitudes.Michael Brown, a KIPP Middle School teacher in Lynn, and School Committee member Vincent Spirito concocted the poster contest as part of a lesson plan related to Gossett’s message, Joseph said.”We wanted the posters up for Veterans Day. Hopefully we can keep them on exhibit for a couple of weeks. We’re trying to get parents to visit City Hall to see their children’s work, people who might not otherwise come here,” she said.One of the winning posters depicts a man being beaten while others stand by and watch. Below the disturbing image is a quote from the late civil rights advocate, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Our lives begin and end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”The poster refers to the unprovoked and near-fatal beating of Guatemalan immigrant Damion Merida by six Lynn youths on July 22, 2009. State prosecutors contend the attack, which occurred near the commuter railroad tracks abutting Robert McManus Field, was racially motivated.The first-prize poster showing gang activity was done by Saleena Son, Somara Son and Janet Ezemba.The second-prize poster on the public beating was done by Mariama Barry, Jacelyn Perry, Natia Clarke and Darlee Chavez. The third-prize artwork, entitled “Stand Up for Others,” was the work of Diana Rodriguez and Saidy Cruz.”We came up with the idea after everybody discussed it and we were sure nobody else was doing the same thing,” said Barry. “I knew about the story because my cousin was involved. He saw it. He was a bystander and he felt bad.”Ezemba, one of the first-prize artists, said she previously attended the Ford School in the Highlands where students learned about the city’s gang history.”It’s East against West. Somara did most of the drawing. We gave her the ideas. The gun is in there because that’s what gangs usually have,” she said.Cruz, part of the third-prize poster crew, said fights between blacks and whites prompted the subject. “We think people should stop fighting and just stand up for each other and themselves,” she said.Thurgood Marshall Vice Principal Carol Brown said the student artists stayed after school on many days to work on the posters with a variety of their teachers. The winners received Visa gift cards.