June 24th 2023.
Dashawn Walker is an 18-year-old high school graduate and gun violence survivor. On February 21, 2023, he was walking home from school in North Philadelphia when a man exited his vehicle and shot him 10 times. Despite the horrific attack, Walker was determined to walk with his classmates at graduation, but his hopes were soon dashed.
Veronica Joyner, chief administrator of his school, was worried for Walker's safety. After discovering the teen was targeted, Joyner and the school board decided to exclude him from all in-person activities, including the graduation ceremony. While the decision was made with good intentions, Walker felt as though he was being punished for something he didn't do. His assailant, 20-year-old Micah Roane, resides in the same neighborhood as Walker, but the two never interacted. Captain James Kearney of the Philadelphia Police Department confirmed that Walker “seemed like a good kid” with no prior run-ins with the law.
Not only did Joyner decide to exclude Walker from graduation, she also questioned where his family earned the money for his prom suit, which cost upward of $1,000. She suggested that Walker may have been involved in illicit activities. Walker denied these comments and felt personally attacked.
Joyner has much to boast about regarding her charter school’s achievements, such as their recent mock trial international champions. However, her recent actions were not in line with the school district’s initiative to improve academic performance and boost success rates.
Walker is now determined to make a difference in his own life. He plans to attend Shippensburg University and major in either business or health care. He also hopes to start a support group for other victims of gun violence. Though he cannot change the past, Walker is looking forward to a future with many possibilities.
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