VALDOSTA – In town promoting a new chapter of his organization, human-rights activist Gerald Rose made a stop at Southside Recreation Center late last to speak with youth. 

He is founder of the New Order National Human Rights Organization and is the son of civil rights activist the Rev. Floyd Rose of Valdosta.

Gerald Rose spoke to kids about personal experiences and how they’ve impacted his life.

He talked to them about networking, the importance of unity and working together, as well as making a difference in the community.

Through New Order, Gerald Rose focuses on mentoring.

“I always tell our young people to put down the pistols and pick up the pencils because another victim dies, another mother cries,” he said. “I’m trying to save our youth.”

The Valdosta chapter of New Order will host an educational program spearheaded by Alchanda Harrison, a Pine Grove Middle School teacher.

She said she plans to develop after-school tutoring and mentorships through the organization.

Harrison, who leads the Ladies of Excellence at PGM, said she shares the passion of changing people’s lives with Gerald Rose.

“I feel young people need to understand that there’s always someone that’s less fortunate than what they are and there’s also people that deal with some of the same issues that they may deal with,” she said.

Coming from a “strong” grandfather and an activist father, Gerald Rose believes it’s important to keep youths involved.

“This is a small city, but I have to wake these people up,” he said.

He said it was a wake-up call to see his dad, Floyd Rose, being escorted out of a Valdosta City Council meeting earlier this month.

Floyd Rose and the People’s Tribunal have been instrumental in the controversial renaming of Forrest Street advocating for the change.

The group maintains the road was named after Ku Klux Klan founder Nathan Bedford Forrest, though others argue against this sentiment.

“From a distance, there’s some problems going on here on the human-rights side and also on the violence,” Gerald Rose said.

He said the matter of renaming the street seemed personal against his father when he attended a City Council meeting recently.

Gerald Rose will add his voice to the debate as they “eventually get the word out,” he said.

“If we have to eventually hit the streets and bring more numbers, I can do that,” he said referencing a possible march.

Call 1-(800) 346-5138, or visit nonhro.org, to learn more about New Order National Human Rights Organization.