‘Silence the Violence’ rally set Feb. 12 in Wilmington

7:48 a.m., Feb. 10, 2005--Two groups in Wilmington are working to spread the word that, despite the number of shootings and other violent incidents involving young people in their city, teens also have a positive message that is expressed through their music and involvement in community-based organizations and programs.

Bassline Entertainment is partnering with the Royal and Loyalty Keystone Club of the Clarence Fraim Boys and Girls Clubs to sponsor a “Silence The Violence“ rally. The event will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Clarence Fraim Boys and Girls Club, 669 Union Street, Wilmington.

Members of Baseline Entertainment, a coed group of teens ages 14-17, write and produce R & B, hip-hop and neo-soul tunes that carry a positive message. The group, whose members live in Wilmington, have performed in several major cities, including New York City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Indianapolis and Sheffield and London in the United Kingdom.

The Keystone Club is a national initiative of the Boys and Girls clubs aimed at developing leadership and entrepreneurial skills among their teen members.

Both groups have expressed concern over the increase in violence by and against teenagers in the Wilmington and Philadelphia area.

“When Wilmington was hit with a rash of teen murders, the two groups, who knew some of the murder victims and their accused murderers, expressed a desire to do something more visible in speaking out against violence,” Tony Anderson, a doctoral candidate in education in the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, said.

Anderson serves as executive director for Bassline Entertainment and as adviser to the Fraim Boys and Girls Keystone Club.

“Bassline was in the process of finishing a new CD, State of Emergency, about violence in the community,” Anderson said. “They decided to hold a rally and party afterwards to correspond with the release of the CD and to show that there are teens who are not violent and who are a positive, productive influence in the community.”

To date, the rally has drawn the sponsorship of MTV and urban contemporary radio station WPHI-FM 103.9, the Beat, in Philadelphia. The event will be hosted by radio personalities ENVY and DJ AMAZE.

For more information or to obtain press credentials, call Anderson at (302) 655-4591 or (302) 897-0158.

Article by Jerry Rhodes

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