By BJ Austin
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-988826.mp3
Dallas, TX – October 12th is "Bullying Awareness Day" in Fort Worth. The city council passed the resolution Tuesday.
October 12th marks a year since Council member Joel Burns made a tearful presentation before the council on the effects of bullying in his life. His comments followed several recent suicides of teenagers who had been bullied at school. And the comments went "viral", landing Burns on Oprah and at a White House summit on bullying.
Burns told council colleagues this is an important conversation that needs to continue.
Burns: Lives are at stake every single day. Just a few days ago, a young man who was 14 years old named Jamey Rodemeyer had been taunted, harassed at school, and he went home and he shot himself. He's just one of many, many kids out there who don't see that light at the end of the tunnel.
Burns says he wants to tell those kids it gets better - hang on. The "Bullying Awareness Day" resolution calls on parents and all citizens to do their part to combat bullying.