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Woodland Hills Students Standing Against Gun Violence

TURTLE CREEK (KDKA) -- Eighth grade students from Woodland Hills Academy in Turtle Creek are taking a stand against gun violence.

They gathered Saturday, pledging to not resolve disputes using gun violence.

Social Studies teacher Adam Forgie said it started with a class project on troubling social issues. Gun violence was at the top of the list.

"The impact and the amount of students affected by it was unbelievable," he said.

They marched from the football stadium wearing Wolverine shirts reading: 'guns and violence will not define us'.

For some, gun violence hits close to home.

"Just seeing my family members die, it's just... we lost another life, who else is going to be next," Mondale King said.

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Ramere Powell also had a heartbreaking story to share.

"My great-grandmother got shot, and a cousin of mine died after getting shot and they just left him on the side of the road," Powell said.

Unfortunately, it's not unusual to hear the rapid fire of gunshots outside.

"There was one day, there was a whole bunch of gunshots outside where I live, right outside my window, and my parents were at work it was just me and my sister," Pamela Tagyen said.

Former Woodland Hills student and Pittsburgh Steeler Wesley Lyons runs a program to help students develop life skills.

He came to offer support.

"As far as the gun violence, this just needs to stop this is something I grew up in, I grew up in this district so really -- just stand up," he said.

The march ended with a rally at Woodland Hills Academy where students heard from the mayor of Turtle Creek and the Woodland Hills School Superintendent.

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