Over 50 Bronx students, parents and community members will march through Education Mile on Saturday, October 3rd as part of Dignity in Schools’ National Week of Action calling for police-free schools. The protest, organized by Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and Sistas and Brothas United (SBU), will drop banners demanding police-free schools and investment in restorative justice at six schools — Dewitt Clinton High School, Bronx Science High School, High School for American Studies, Walton Campus, P.S. 86, and P.S. 340.

 

The protest comes as students re-enter school for the first time after six months of home learning and trauma due to the fact that Black and Brown communities in the Bronx have been disproportionately affected by the loss of caretakers and family members, unemployment, and housing and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SBU is calling for an end to status quo disciplinary measures. Instead, the students of SBU are calling for investment in conflict resolution, youth development, and extra emotional support.

 

WHEN: Saturday, October 3, 2020

 

WHERE:

11:00 AM: Dewitt Clinton High School (100 W Mosholu Pkwy S, The Bronx, NY

10468

11:45 AM: Bronx Science High School (75 W 205th St, The Bronx, NY 10468)

12:00 PM: The High School for American Students (2925 Goulden Ave, The Bronx, NY 10468)

12:15 PM: Walton Campus (2780 Reservoir Ave, The Bronx, NY 10468)

12:30 PM: PS 86 (2756 Reservoir Ave, The Bronx, NY 10468)

12:45 PM: PS 340 (25 W 195th St, The Bronx, NY 10468)

 

WHO:  50+ Students, Parents, Teachers, Activists

“I have 6 more years of a public school education. How can I feel invested in school for these next 6 years if the DOE continues to spend four times more on criminalizing black and brown youth than on school nurses?” said Josh Melendez, a 12 year old youth SBU youth leader and student at J.H.S. 123 James M. Kieran.

 

According to the group, Black and Latinx youth have consistently faced higher rates of school disciplinary policies like long term suspensions, arrest and summonses than their White counterparts. In the 2018-2019 school year, although overall arrests and summonses were down, Black youth represented over 60% of students restrained with metal handcuffs, despite only making up 26 percent of the student population.

Sistas and Brothas United: Sistas and Brothas United (SBU) is the youth organizing arm of the Northwest Bronx Community & Clergy Coalition, a 46 year old grassroots member-led organization. SBU members organize for police-free schools and shed light on the negative impacts of policing and zero tolerance policies on Black and Brown students.  For the last two decades, SBU has organized to dismantle the school to prison pipeline by eradicating suspensions, arrests, metal detectors, and School Safety Agents that push young people out of school and into the prison system.