Meridian Freedom Project to host first-ever Shoot Baskets not Bullets event

Gun violence has been taking place throughout the city of Meridian. So the Meridian Freedom Project is hosting a Shoot Basket Not Bullets Event as a way to bring awareness to how violence affects the youth.

"So we're having this event called our shoot baskets, not bullets. We're looking to like really draw out the entire community and just promote unity and not violence and just try to, like, insinuate the question that are you creating the environment that you want your children to grow up in," said Aaron Ursin, Intern at Meridian Freedom Project.

This will be the first-ever Shoot Baskets Not Bullets Event and the idea came from the students and interns trying to figure out ways how to stop the senseless violence and promote unity.

"This is very detrimental to our children's future, and it's not really about us or really the violence that's going on, but it's how it affects the kids," said Ursin.

Some kids expressed their concerns about the shootings throughout the city and states how it can be scary going outside and some are fearful because they live in the areas where they happen.

"I live where people shoot sometimes and sometimes I feel scared about it too. So I'm just trying to let the message out to stop shootings," said Aydien Roberts.

"So shoot baskets instead of bullets because you have innocent children who would like to go outside. Some children are scared these days because people do drive-by shootings and they just shoot just to be shooting. Sometimes they don't have a reason for it," expressed Makaylah Fikes.

Registration begins at 4:45 pm at the Graham Gymnasium where the event will be held. The game will be an all-around-the-world style basketball game which will begin at 5 pm.