Hundreds of youth from Atlanta and Fulton County gathered Saturday, March 5, 2011, to take a pledge against bullying. The standing room only rally was co-sponsored by the Fulton County Youth Commission in collaboration with Monique Rivarde, founder of BFAM, a group of family and friends of Bobby Tillman.  Tillman, an 18 year old, was beaten and stomped to death by other young men in November 2010 outside a party.

A video by Atlanta Falcons player Chauncey Davis urged young people not to bully.  He told them that he was once a bully who became the victim of another bully who was bigger and stronger.    The Rally was held on the campus of B.E.S.T (Business, Engineering, Science and Technology) Academy, an Atlanta Public Schools Middle School and High School for young men.

The children along with many parents applauded the entertainment, which featured appearances by Prince Nephew and the Mill, Youth Ensemble Atlanta and V103 DJ Greg Street.  The event also featured exhibits and motivational speakers to communicate the potentially tragic consequences of bullying.  The young audience was also warned of the social and criminal damage that can be left when others are bullied on school grounds, in communities or through electronic media by texting or social media on the web.

 At the rally’s end, Rivarde and her youthful supporters distributed the BFAM pledge to the crowd urging them to take the pledge not to bully others.

For more information about the Fulton County Youth Commission, contact Reginald Crossley at 404-409-7761.