Jamaica, Queens Teen Basketball Team Dons Orange To Fight Gun Violence
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Pink ribbons are worn for breast cancer, yellow ribbons are tied to trees for bringing our troops home, and now, the color orange is in use for a fledgling campaign to end gun violence.
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported Saturday evening, the movement has taken root in a city basketball program that is not immune to bloodshed in its own ranks.
The team of talented teenage basketball players from Jamaica, Queens was wearing orange T-shirts under their jerseys at a preseason game Saturday.
"If you take kids in inner city communities kids from age 15 to 19, it's the leading cause of death," said one player, high school senior Mustapha Heron.
In fact, four players associated with the city's New Renaissance Basketball Association have either been shot this year or have shot someone else.
"One of our players got shot in the stomach and still has a bullet lodged in his body," said basketball association executive director Andy Borman.
Borman said his young players came up to with the idea of donning a color that stands for safety.
"This year, all of our coaches and all of our players are going to wear orange," Borman said.
"I lost three friends over the years to gun violence, one in jail now, you know, for actually shooting somebody, and then two dead friends I went to middle school with." Heron said.
Heron said something has to be done, and they young players were inspiring parents at the game.
"Everybody who takes a step or does anything towards that is a positive step in the right direction," said Marleen Harris of Brooklyn.
"You know, this is South Jamaica, Queens -- this has always been a rough area," said Harold Johnson of Jamaica, Queens.
"I think with more initiatives like these, I think it'll help. It's a start," said Paige Worrell of Jamaica, Queens.
It is a start from the very kids whose lives may depend on searching for an end to gun violence.
"If wearing orange is cool, we've done our job," Borman said.