Testimony.

Instructions: 

Submit a short 60-second video answering one of the questions below. We encourage you to share any personal stories or experiences that feel right to you. 

Watch the example video below.

Please answer one of the following questions in your video: 

• Why should police be removed from schools? 

• How has the school-to-prison-and-deportation pipeline impacted you, your child, or your community?

• What are your hopes for a liberatory education system based on principles of equity and racial justice? What would your school have that it doesn’t currently?

• How have police, prisons or jails impacted you or your community?

IMPORTANT: At the end of your video call on Congress to pass the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and have a hearing on the need for police-free schools. You can say something like “That’s why it’s urgent that Congress pass the Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act and have a hearing on the need for police-free schools now!” 

Some important facts and talking points you can use: 

• How does the school-to-prison-and-deportation pipeline impact our communities?

• Budgets are moral documents. The federal government must immediately stop funding the racist system of policing in schools and instead invest deeply in community priorities. 

• Police in schools do not keep young people safe.  

• Black and brown young people are significantly more likely to be assaulted and arrested by police in schools than their white peers. 

• Investments in restorative practices, counselors, teachers, and other supports have been shown to increase school safety and foster a positive environment.

Legal Notice: 

By providing this information and clicking "submit", you consent to share your story with the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD), as well as any entity and/or individual (s) who may use the information to promote advocacy. CPD's educational justice mission a; including but is not limited to: members of Congress, CPD, CPDA, and use on social media. Your personally identifiable information will only be shared internally in accordance with applicable regulations. Before sharing your story with other entities and/or individuals, CPD will anonymize the information so that your personally identifiable information is protected and not disclosed. Only your first name and last initial, the state of your origin (if provided), And any images you include in your video will be included along with your story. CPD will not be able to contact you for your express permission if it would be helpful to share your story. Your submission on this page is your consent. If at any time you want your personally identifiable information and/or history to be permanently deleted, you can contact kterenzi@populardemocracy.org with your request. Upon receipt of such a request, CPD will permanently delete all or part of the data included in your request.