PAX/Real Solutions to Gun Violence, North Carolina State Superintendent Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson, Cumberland County Schools (CCS) Superintendent Dr. Frank Till, other state and county leaders, local law enforcement officers, and students from the Academy of Public Safety and Security at South View High School gathered at CCS’ Central Services Building Friday morning (Jan. 29) to help launch the SPEAK UP Campaign in Cumberland County. The two-year initiative, funded by the ESA Foundation, is geared toward providing an innovative means of keeping young people in Cumberland County safe from weapon-related violence in and outside of school.  

Research shows that students often know about weapon threats before they occur, but may not tell others because of social pressure or fear of physical retaliation.  The SPEAK UP Campaign empowers young people to report threats of weapon-related violence, either by talking to a trusted adult or by anonymously calling or texting the SPEAK UP weapon threats hotline.   

The SPEAK UP campaign was created in 2002 by PAX, a non-profit organization that works to prevent gun violence among children and families. The centerpiece of the campaign is the anonymous SPEAK UP hotline, which Cumberland County students can call or text to report weapon threats 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Since its inception in 2002, 1-866-SPEAK-UP has received over 35,000 calls nationwide.