Cleveland students share thoughts on racism, violence, police brutality at City Club (photos, video)

Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The Plain Dealer's Rachel Dissell reporting at the City Club of Cleveland

by The Plain Dealer's Brie Zeltner

Dozens of Cleveland area high school students attended the City Club of Cleveland's Youth Forum today to talk about issues of racism, violence, and police brutality in the wake of the shooting death of 12-year old Tamir Rice. Tamir, who was shot and killed Nov, 22 by a rookie police officer outside Cudell Recreation Center, was thought to be brandishing a gun at the time, which turned out to be an airsoft replica pellet gun.

In an effort to hear some of the voices of the children who have been directly affected by these events, we asked questions of some of the Northeast Ohio students at today's City Club youth forum, and let them answer in their own words. They also came up with some questions of their own.

Pick a slide (The "N" word, The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ... , When I see a police car I feel ... ) and share your thoughts in the comments section.

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The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

Local area students were asked to finish these sentences before the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

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The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

Brian Jackson, 14, a freshman at Shaw High School, finishes the statement 'The Death of Tamir Rice Makes Me Feel..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

Whitney Mack, 18, a senior at Shaw High School, finishes the statement 'The Death of Tamir Rice Makes Me Feel..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

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The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

Gina Bompiedi, 17, a junior at Hathaway Brown finishes the statement 'The Death of Tamir Rice Makes Me Feel..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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The death of Tamir Rice makes me feel ...

Kasjia Thomas, 16, a junior at John F. Kennedy High School, finishes the statement 'The Death of Tamir Rice Makes Me Feel..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Local area students were asked to finish these sentences before the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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The 'N' Word ...

Brandon Clancy, 17, a senior at Shaw High School, finishes the statement "The 'N' word..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The 'N' Word ...

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The 'N' Word ...

Kyra Germany, 18, a senior at Hathaway Brown, finishes the sentence "The 'N' word..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The 'N' Word ...

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The 'N' Word ...

John Ferguson, 18, a senior at Shaw High School, finishes the statement "The 'N' word..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The 'N' Word ...

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The 'N' Word ...

La'Voziay Hinton, 17, a senior at Shaw High School, finishes the statement "The 'N' word..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The 'N' Word ...

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The 'N' Word ...

Skye Duncan, 16, a junior at Shaw High School, finishes the statement "The 'N' word..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

The 'N' Word

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Local area students were asked to finish these sentences before the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

When I see a police car ...

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

When I see a police car ...

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When I see a police car ...

Josiah Jones-Ray, 18, a senior at The Cleveland School of Science and Medicine, finishes the statement 'When I see a police car I think...' at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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When I see a police car ...

Julian Huff, 14, a freshman at New Tech East, finishes the statement "When I see a police car I think..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

When I see a police car ...

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When I see a police car ...

Mikayla Ware, 16, a junior at John F. Kennedy High School, finishes the statement "When I see a police car I think..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

When I see a police car...

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When I see a police car ...

Imani Taylor, 16, a junior at John F. Kennedy High School, finishes the statement "When I see a police car..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

When I see a police car ...

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When I see police ...

Timothy Grimes, 17, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School, finishes the statement "When I see police..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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Amanda Harnocz, Northeast Ohio Media Group

When I see a police car ...

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When I see a police car ...

Latasha Cargill, 16, a sophomore at John F. Kennedy High School, finishes the statement "When I see a police car I think..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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When I see police ...

Giovanni Block, 16, a junior at Shaw High School, finishes the statement "When I see police..." at the City Club Youth Forum at the City Club of Cleveland on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015. (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

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