Beyond Bullets

Stephen Saylee, senior—On November 15, 2010, a program called Beyond Bullets came to our school to speak to us about gun violence in the New York City communities. Ronald Merritt spoke on this issue, and the importance of doing something about it. But before I talk about Merritt and his experience, I will talk about the organization.

What is Beyond Bullets and what do they do? Beyond Bullets is a media campaign by Downtown Community Television (DCTV) to increase awareness about our nation’s gun violence epidemic, and to draw attention to the people who are working on preventing violence across the country against great odds.

According to the Beyond Bullets website, the organization started in 2005, when two teenage filmmakers named Terrence Fisher and Daniel Howard made “Bullets in the Hood”, produced through DCTV’s PRO-TV program. DCTV decided that, after decades of war reporting overseas, it was time to report on this war at home. In 2009 they began planning a national media campaign with support from the Ford Foundation. In 2010, Beyond Bullets is focusing on New York City’s gun violence issues. They have worked with six journalists to make a series of short videos about gun violence throughout the city. They have shot many videos of different people talking about their experiences with gun violence in their neighborhoods, and how these experiences have changed their lives. One of those people that they filmed was Ronald Merritt.

Ronald Merritt is a 23-year old African American male who lives in Queens, NY.  He has lost 50 friends and relatives due to gun violence. Merritt was one of those people destined to be involved in gun violence. His father was in and out of jail and never taught Merritt about playing basketball or anything. All Merritt knew was holding a gun and getting involved in shootouts. He once saw no future for himself but being a drug dealer.

Then he decided that the life he was living was not for him and it is a dangerous one. So, one day he put down his gun and picked up a camera. Now the only thing he shoots with is a video camera, and the only people he shoots are those talking about their experience of gun violence. He now works with LIFE Camp.

If you want to get to know more about Ronald Merritt, you can go to beyondbullets.org and watch his film, where he talks more about his experiences with gun violence and how it has changed his life. Merritt told our class to find an interest that really interest you and work on that interest to keep you productive and off the streets.