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The Face of Forgiveness

Amid the rising rate of violent crime in Boston this year, one of the most public faces of a grass roots anti-violence movement is a six-year-old girl. She's appearing on billboards, posters, and even a music video, aimed at promoting peace in the city.

Kai Leigh was three years old when she was playing with her older sister on the family's porch and gunfire rang out on her Dorchester street.

A stray bullet hit her in the back, paralyzing her from the waist down. In April this year, Kai Leigh went to court and faced the man who fired that shot. She shocked everyone with her sense of forgiveness.

With her mother Tonya David by her side, Kai Leigh told the court, "I still forgive him." Both Kai Leigh and Tonya join WBUR's Delores Handy for a conversation about forgiveness and peace.

This program aired on August 18, 2006. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Delores Handy

Delores Handy Reporter
Delores Handy was formerly a host and reporter at WBUR.

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