Teens question proposed Raleigh curfew after weekend chaos
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Joshua Holden went to Brier Creek on July 4 to watch fireworks with friends, expecting a night of celebration.
"I was just trying to have fun," Holden said.
The atmosphere changed abruptly, he said, when fighting and gunfire broke out.
"It just turned into chaos because of the fighting and the shooting that happened, and people just not getting along all together and all," Holden said.
The incident drew sharp criticism from Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce, who described what he witnessed as "unruly, undisciplined, and unsupervised juveniles."
Holden said he understands those concerns but believes not everyone present should be blamed for the actions of others.
"It's upsetting. I'm not going to lie because it affected us as a whole. We are gaining consequences over something that we don't we didn't do," Holden said.
Holden, a recent high school graduate, spoke alongside his mentor, Scottie Barnes, founder of the youth mentoring group Katch the Kite.
The conversation comes as city leaders consider a citywide teen curfew. City leaders have said a majority of the teens involved in the takeover were in Raleigh from other cities.
Holden questioned whether a broad curfew is the right solution.
"I think it should just affect the specific people that got into the incident," he said.
Coreion Levy, an upcoming high school senior who is working two jobs this summer, also opposed the proposal.
"We shouldn't have a curfew because there's like a bandage on the cut. What is it really doing?" Levy said.
Levy said teens need more recreational opportunities.
"We don't really have many things out there for us. They don't want to do nothing for us, and we want to go have fun just like everybody else. Like maybe go on the big air. A teen night for free," he said.
Both teens pointed to mentorship programs, employment opportunities, and stronger communication as ways to address problems involving young people.
"We just need somebody to talk to. We need somebody to uplift us," Holden said.
Their message, they said, is a call for support and solutions before similar incidents lead to something worse.
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