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Matthew Henson Elementary Students Compose Freddie Gray Song

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- One Baltimore elementary school is using the lyrics of an original song to bring healing to the city.

Gigi Barnett explains their uplifting words started out as a class discussion on the recent violence students saw around Baltimore.

As the images of Baltimore burned into the minds of the fourth graders at Matthew Henson Elementary School, they went back to class this week with an idea to bring healing to Baltimore.

"I thought that it was terrible 'cause they're ruining their own neighborhood and they're putting punishment on us," said Jaelyn Jackson.

"Maybe people will believe in the song and start singing it," said Lorraine Coleman.

"We went through the stages of what we saw and how it made us feel and they really had raw emotions," said their teacher Emily Umunna.

The school doesn't have a music teacher. That luxury was cut five years ago to save the district some cash.

Fourth grade teacher Emily Umunna says her thought turned to her students often on the nights of the riots.

"I did cry because I watched it from home and I cried as I told them that I cried," she said. "I felt so hopeless not to be able to be there and check on them."

Now, with a song on paper and in their hearts, students hope the message and melody spread quickly.

"I hope people can hear the song and then they'll come to their senses," said Jaylin Washington.

In addition to writing the song, students also wrote the mayor, asking her to keep the city safe and sharing their feelings on the Freddie Gray case.

Students say they'd like to add music to the song one day. Some of the students say they'd like to see the song attract the attention of a famous music producer who can make it into a big hit.

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