During an afternoon filled with cross-town rivalries, the basketball teams from Eastern Hills High School and Dunbar High School set aside their competition to unite against gun violence.
With the backing of city leaders, players, coaches, and fans initiated Saturday’s men’s varsity game with a collective stance against the pressing issue of gun violence.
The “white out against violence” event was spearheaded by Eastern Hills Head Basketball Coach Melvin Miller, who emphasized the daily impact of such tragedies on their community.
Reflecting on the loss of former player Jordan Miles to a drive-by shooting, Miller recalled Miles’s significant contributions to the team’s success and lamented the loss of such a promising young life at just 20 years old.
The event coincided with the first anniversary of a tragic shooting in a Whataburger parking lot, underscoring the urgent need to address youth violence in Fort Worth.
Miller stressed the importance of offering alternative pathways for young people, urging them to seek mentorship, support from counselors, or engagement with community resources instead of resorting to violence.
Stellena Giddings, an honorary grandparent to several players and a biological grandparent to one, echoed Miller’s sentiments, expressing her family’s shared concerns about the prevalence of shootings and the need for collective action.
For families like Giddings’, events like the “white out against violence” serve as a beacon of hope, reminding teenagers that they are not alone and that their community stands united against violence.
Kelton Russell, Giddings’ son-in-law, emphasized the importance of such displays of support, highlighting how they instill a sense of pride and belonging in young people, fostering a positive community spirit.
