Kids rap about fear of violence

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (WTNH) -- School children worried about violence are speaking out about the increasingly difficult challenges they face, while trying to get a decent education.

"Bridgeport violence has got to come to an end today," said 9-year-old Shane Melhouse.

Shane is one of many kids who joined state and city leaders at an anti-violence summit in the city Friday. And how does he feel about the violence?

"It feels harsh, I feel like if I were to start walking to school by myself I would get killed because my cousin, 15, she got shot in the head on her aunt's porch," Shane said, "so that made me feel like I was going to be in danger next."

His cousin, 15-year-old Keijahnae Robinson, was shot dead in July.

"Sad," Shane said. "It just makes me mad a lot, it's like a shame because a lot of young kids are losing their lives for nothing. Innocent."

Innocent and losing their innocence. The following is what Shane has heard adults talking about on his walk to school.

"They'd be like 'oh I'm in danger, like I'm afraid, I'm going to get killed.' And a lot about that," Shane said. And I don't want to hear that, I'm only 9. And I hear people when I'm walking to go to school I hear them saying 'oh I'm going to shoot this person today, I'm going to kill them, he owes me $1, he owes me $5.'"

Shane isn't the only kid in Bridgeport who says he's in constant fear for his safety. In fact, News 8 talked to a pair of siblings who are expressing their concerns in a very different way.

"Kids busting guns....another kidnap."

Some rapping siblings say hip-hop, if done right, can be a healthy outlet for kids to express how they feel about all the crime around them.

"The hip-hop music, some of it can be positive," said 11-year-old Baby D. "Ours is positive, it talks about what's going on and what can be done."

"It's good for kids, so that they don't copy what other adults are doing on the streets," said 9-year-old Little Dave G.

Now if only the adults could copy the kids.