BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — A youth-led Bakersfield organization is launching a four-week campaign against gun violence following the deadly shooting at an Independence High School football game, with students planning to take their concerns from school campuses to City Hall and the Kern High School District Board of Trustees.
Students4Change Bakersfield founder and CEO Jalynn Hammond said the organization’s Students Against Gun Violence campaign is focused on encouraging students to speak out about gun violence and advocate for changes they believe could make schools and community events safer.
“So this week we’re running petitions and students are signing on based on how they feel about gun violence and what change they want to see in our community,” Hammond said.
The campaign comes after 17-year-old Levi Jermaine Carter Brown was shot and killed during a football game at Independence High School on Friday, Aug. 21. The Bakersfield Police Department has since confirmed the shooting was gang-related.
Hammond said the Independence shooting prompted Students4Change to organize the four-week campaign.
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Students4Change grew out of an earlier tragedy
Students4Change has been operating for nearly two years, according to Hammond.
She said the organization traces its beginnings to another young person’s shooting death in Bakersfield in 2024. At the time, Hammond was a high school senior and a student member of the Kern High School District Board of Trustees.
Hammond said learning about the death of a 15-year-old named Prince Michael at the Marketplace motivated her to reach out to his mother and ask how she could help.
“I don’t know what it was, but it was a really like sad wave that came over me. And the first thing I thought of when I got home was like, I need to contact his mother. I need to figure out how I can help, how I can be of assistance,” Hammond said.
Hammond said she initially had no plans to create an organization.
“And at that time in mind, I didn’t have an organization in mind. I was just a girl who was a student board member, but also just had wanted it to help a family or help someone who was going through a challenging time,” Hammond said.
She said conversations with other students eventually led to a gun violence awareness event at Riverwalk in November 2024.
“And from there on, they were like, well, we want to help too. And so we hosted Bakersfield’s first stop the gun violence event at Riverwalk in November of 2024 and it was an amazing turnout,” Hammond said.
Students4Change has since expanded its work to include student leadership opportunities in addition to gun violence awareness.
Four weeks of action following Independence shooting
Hammond said the Students Against Gun Violence campaign begins with students collecting petition signatures at school sites.
The campaign will then move to a peaceful protest at Bakersfield City Hall, followed by an appearance at the Kern High School District Board meeting on Sept. 8. Hammond said a gun violence vigil is scheduled for Sept. 19 at Riverwalk.
The petition will also be taken to City Hall and the KHSD board meeting, according to Hammond.
Courtesy: Students4Change Bakersfield
“This is a really big thing for us. I think because we are striving to really get that communication open, but also for students to understand that I don’t want them to think about gun violence when it’s at their doorstep,” Hammond said.
She said she does not want young people to wait until violence directly affects them before thinking about the issue.
“I don’t want them to think about gun violence when it’s out of high school football game and it affects Friday night lights. I don’t want them to think about a high school football game when they tragically lose their friend. I don’t want them to think about that,” Hammond said.
Hammond said the campaign is intended to encourage conversations about gun violence and how people should respond when violence occurs.
“I want them to have it in their mind already that these things can realistically happen in the world that we live in is truly sick right now. And we have to be aware of these things and we need to have the conversations to bring awareness on how we can maybe not maybe stop it, but bring awareness to it and know the right procedures we can take so people are not stumbling over people at football games to save their own life,” Hammond said.
Students share experiences following Friday’s shooting
Hammond said she received numerous messages from students following the Independence High School shooting.
She said some described running from the football game, becoming separated from friends and witnessing the aftermath of the shooting.
Fans flee after gunshots rang out during Independence High School’s football game on Friday, August 21, in Bakersfield, CA. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
“Within the last weekend, I have gotten…text messages about how students feel,” Hammond said.
Hammond said the accounts students shared with her demonstrated how deeply the shooting affected some of those who were there.
“And so these are sites that can’t be erased from people’s memory. This is a night that most of the independence crowd will never forget,” Hammond said.
She said the shooting has also generated interest from students who want to participate in Students4Change’s campaign.
“I’ve gotten so much, so many people who are trying to sign up for each week. Hey, can I do this? Hey, how can I help? Hey, how can I be assistants of this? Because this is a serious topic,” Hammond said.
Petition initially focused on KHSD safety measures
Hammond said the petition was primarily focused on strengthening safety measures within the Kern High School District.
“Right now, the petition really mainly focused on the Kern High School District fixing their safety measures, but change works so fast. We’ve already gotten the good news that they have taken a step up with more safety measures, but that’s just a step one when it comes to safety and our students’ safety after high schools,” Hammond said.
Courtesy: Kern High School District
Hammond said she appreciates the district making changes.
“I think that change is a good thing, but I think that a lot of people don’t accept change all the time. And so it’s a working progress. I think that them making an effort is a big thing, especially within the time frame,” Hammond said.
She said she believes the district is taking student safety more seriously but argues those conversations should have happened before Friday’s shooting.
“I do appreciate their effort, but I do think that if we would have had this two years ago, if we would have talked about safety measures then and took safety seriously in our students, then we wouldn’t be here today,” Hammond said.
Hammond added that she believes a tragedy should not be necessary to prompt discussions about school safety.
“It should not take somebody losing their life at a high school football game for us to talk about this,” Hammond said.
Students raise possibility of metal detectors
Hammond said one additional security measure she has heard students request is metal detectors.
“Students are really asking for metal detectors… I understand why they are asking for metal detectors. And I think that I agree. I agree that students should have metal detectors…Schools should have metal detectors, especially given the fact of stuff like this,” Hammond said.
However, Hammond acknowledged that installing metal detectors across KHSD campuses could present challenges and said she does not believe every school necessarily requires the same approach.
“I think metal detectors is a very controversial idea, but I do think I’m a firm believer of the test running. Test running out of school and see how it works, if it works, then try to implement it somewhere else,” Hammond said.
She suggested testing the idea at a school before determining whether it should be expanded.
Hammond also wants greater attention from staff and security personnel when concerns arise.
“We need to do more safety measures with them, making sure that they’re actually paying attention to our students. Actually there for our students. If they see something, they need to report it,” Hammond said.
The Bakersfield Police Department said they are investigating a shooting at Independence High School on Friday night. PHOTO: KBAK/KBFX
Campaign expands beyond school security
Students4Change’s campaign is also aimed at Bakersfield city leaders.
Hammond said she wants city officials to pay greater attention to gun violence and mental health in the broader community.
“I want them to pay attention to gun balance and mental health in our community. That’s the biggest thing is that we’re trying to implement them to understand that we need to have a conversation about that, and it starts with you guys,” Hammond said.
Hammond said she believes the discussion about preventing violence needs to include support systems for both young people and adults.
“Of course, we can address it on a school district level, but the funding and these event centers, and you’re putting so much infrastructure into a city that’s growing, of course, but in order to support that city, you need to have support systems like mental health resources out here for students. Not only just students, adults, too,” Hammond said.
She also said she sees school safety, gun violence and mental health as interconnected issues.
“I think that it starts with gun violence, yes, but there’s a deeper level to it, and we need to address all of these levels,” Hammond said.
Students want a larger voice in safety decisions
Beyond specific security changes, Hammond said one of the organization’s broader goals is making sure young people have a voice in decisions affecting their safety.
When asked whether students currently have enough of a voice in decisions about school safety and gun violence prevention, Hammond said they do not.
“No, I don’t feel like students have a voice on those theaters,” Hammond said.
She said youth organizations can provide students with a platform but believes adults do not always take students’ concerns seriously until they organize a larger public action.
“I don’t think that a lot of adults take students seriously unless they’re planning to do a walkout, unless they’re planning to do a protest, and I don’t think it should take that,” Hammond said.
Hammond said students should be able to raise concerns directly with school leaders without having to threaten a walkout or organize a protest to get attention.
“I think it should take having a conversation with your principal enough to bring awareness to things, to know thats how serious a student is,” Hammond said.
Students4Change plans to continue its campaign with the City Hall protest, the Sept. 8 KHSD board meeting and the Sept. 19 Riverwalk vigil.
Hammond said the four-week campaign will not mark the end of the organization’s work on gun violence.
She added that Students4Change plans to continue the conversation beyond the campaign.