ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Pete dad is on a mission to make the town safer after the demise of his son again in 2019.
Marquis Scott was shot and killed whereas driving his bike. Now, he is making an attempt to realize traction for a brand new initiative he is created.
Maress Scott
“We discovered ourselves desirous to do extra for the neighborhood,” Maress Scott stated.
Scott has a giant coronary heart with even greater objectives. He desires to finish gun violence in St. Petersburg.
“How do you eat an elephant? One chunk at a time,” Scott stated.
On Sept. 17, 2019, Scott’s son was killed. Scott says Marquis was about to show over a brand new leaf and begin lessons for a commerce program. He determined to channel that grief into his neighborhood.
“I may hear my spouse’s voice when she stated, ‘Marquis would anticipate us to do one thing as a result of we informed him being a Scott means one thing,'” he stated.
Maress Scott
Scott began going into neighborhoods, asking younger males to signal the “Black St. Pete Pledge.” In brief, it asks the one who indicators it to stroll away from conditions that might result in violence.
“We go to the very individuals that everybody says cannot be reached. And by the grace of God, these guys have been very receptive,” Scott stated. “You are discovering out they do not need to die and so they have issues themselves.
Scott says that led him to create the “Quis For Life,” an initiative with a play on his son’s title.
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At Thursday’s metropolis council assembly, he confirmed council members the curriculum he’d wish to convey to St. Pete college students with a revamped pledge known as the “St. Pete Youth Pledge.” He hopes it will shift the tradition.
“It challenges the no snitching tradition. It challenges the fears and impress[es] upon them to take a stance, to undertake a non-violent way of life in addition to share their way of life with buddies,” Scott stated.
Usually, sons keep it up the legacy of their fathers. However Scott believes telling Marquis’ story could possibly be the spark to ignite change for generations to come back.
“All these individuals obtained the sunshine that was in my son, it is shining in us and by the grace of God we have been going to make the change. We need to save anyone’s life,” he stated.
Metropolis council members informed Scott they’d like to attach him with assets like Parks and Rec and Pinellas County colleges to get the phrase out to children across the county.
If you would like to assist Scott’s mission, you possibly can e-mail him at moscot90@aol.com.
