On July 27th, 2024, Jalen Thompson, a star football player at Michigan State University, hosted a youth camp – the “Jalen Thompson Anti-Violence Football Camp” – for children aged 6-13, at 2501 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201. The camp offered a unique blend of top-tier football training and educational experiences and allowed for valuable insights in overcoming challenges and fostering community unity. Specifically, there was a focus on anti-gun violence that required a legal professional to explain the law to the community to ensure safe passage. The goal of the event was to empower the next generation through sports, legal education, and anti-violence inspiration.

The camp began with a group discussion outlining the goals of the camp and how parents could speak with any of the attorneys or law enforcement while their children began stretching. There, many parents asked questions about what to do if their child was arrested. Many questions also related to what types of crimes could be associated with driving, since many of the campers were teenagers. At lunch, there was a roundtable discussion with parents, students, and guests, where many of the campers were able to ask legal questions. A slew of criminal and intellectual property questions spurred from the interaction. The focus of the discussion was the cause of gun violence and the results in the court system. Specifically, we walked through the criminal court process from arrest to sentencing. Next, we focused on how to avoid gun violence with legal education, to understand the trends and statistics of “crime.” Essentially, participants learned about their legal rights and what to do in potentially violent situations.

Overall, this was a great event where we were able to answer legal questions and educate people on their rights. While football may seem violent, it is actually “controlled aggression” – which is much of what we as attorneys use in court every day.   

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Darnell T. Barton is the current SBM YLS Treasurer as well as a Criminal and Civil Rights Attorney at Barton Law, PLLC.