DeKalb Hosts Playbooks and Pledges

DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis, with partners DeKalb County PAL Plus and the Jerry Clark Foundation, will host Playbooks and Pledges in support of Marquel’s Pledge Saturday, June 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Hallford Stadium, 3789 Memorial College Avenue in Clarkston.

The event includes a free football camp and signature drive for Marquel’s Pledge.  The football camp is open to children ages 6-14. The camp runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. with sign in beginning at 8 a.m. Only 150 slots are available and online registration is strongly encouraged.  In addition, the DeKalb Police Department will take on the Sheriff’s Office in a game of flag football at 4 p.m.

Launched one year ago in June 2010, Marquel’s Pledge is a community initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of celebratory gunfire in DeKalb County and throughout Georgia. DeKalb County developed the initiative after 4-year-old Marquel Peters was struck and killed in church by a stray bullet believed to have been fired by a New Year’s Eve reveler.

A vital DeKalb County Public Safety initiative, Marquel’s Pledge fosters citizen participation to reduce celebratory gunfire by educating community stakeholders about the dangers of celebratory gunfire. Marquel’s Pledge is a progressive campaign serving as the first community outreach initiative of its kind developed by a county government within the State of Georgia. In the year since the launch of Marquel’s Pledge, the 47 percent decline in the number of celebratory gunfire calls to 911 during the New Year’s Eve holiday is proof that by raising the awareness of the dangers of celebratory gunfire, we can make our community safer for all. 

To register, please visit www.jerryclarkfoundation.org.