Activism

Teenagers rally for peace

by Kristen Lombardi

If you think teen power has become synonymous with Gap khaki pants and MTV VJ contests, think again.

A true taste of teen power will be on display this Saturday, May 20, when as many as 900 teenagers from Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester will come together for one of the oldest and largest youth events in the nation: the eighth annual Teen Empowerment Youth Peace Conference at John Hancock Hall.

For months now, 60 teen organizers with the South End youth organization Teen Empowerment have mapped out dance steps, staged skits, and papered the streets with fliers in preparation for what will be a day for young people, devoted to "setting ourselves free."

The theme -- inspired by one teen's rendition of himself trapped behind the bars of injustice, racism, and poverty -- will be manifested through song, sketch, and speeches on historic struggles such as the abolitionist and suffragist movements. Teens will also hash out their own struggles, including the controversy around the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and the tenuous relationship between kids and cops in Boston (see "Drive-by Racism," page 22); 70 percent of 300 surveyed teenagers reported being stopped by police for no reason.

"The idea is that things are pressing upon young people," explains Stanley Pollack, who directs Teen Empowerment, "but we have the power to do something about it."

Urban youths won't be the only ones to show their muscle this weekend. Considering that almost 6000 young people are expected to turn out for the sixth annual Gay-Straight Youth Pride March (see "Queer Youth Rally," This Just In, May 12), which starts at noon at the State House, Saturday stands to be the day for youth across the state.

Organizers hope that the two events, which will overlap because of scheduling matters (Teen Empowerment, for instance, books the conference one year in advance), will be testaments to the strength of youth today. "We support the march," Pollack says, "and expect enough young people will show up to make both the march and conference a success."

The Youth Peace Conference meets this Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at John Hancock Hall. Call (617) 536-4266, ext. 315, for more information.