Black Parkland Students Could Effectively Challenge Trump’s School Discipline Policy
Trump’s policy would make Black students targets of school law enforcement officers and fuel the school-to-prison pipeline.
Black students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida could add an effective voice against President Trump’s plan to repeal the Obama administration’s anti-bias school discipline policies.
See Also: Black Parkland Students Will Get Their Voices Heard At Al Sharpton Rally
Trump has directed a commission, led by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, to make it clear that he opposes former President Barack Obama’s “rethinking discipline” guidance to school districts, the Washington Post reported.
Obama’s 2014 directive notified school districts that the federal government could launch a civil rights investigation if their discipline rates were racially disproportionate. The administration’s overall plan also called for a decrease of law enforcement involvement is school discipline.
Trump’s plan, on the other hand, includes a strategy to “harden our schools” with more security. Typically, an increase security presence all too often leads to cops enforcing school discipline policies—and doing so in a racially biased way that fuels the school-to-prison pipeline. Remember the South Carolina deputy caught in a viral video yanking a Black girl violently from her chair for a minor school policy infraction?
DeVos’ commission is now on a meaningless listening tour to hear all sides, as a Government Accountability Office report released in March reinforces what we’ve known about biased school discipline against Black students.
More than 200 civil rights and education advocacy groups signed a letter on March 22 to DeVos supporting Obama’s reforms. But given Trump’s directive, their voices will fall on deaf ears.
However, Black Parkland students, who are finally getting a national spotlight, could make an impact by adding their voices in opposition to Trump’s policy shift.
Black Parkland Students Feel Profiled by School Police and Ignored by Media https://t.co/KcoJSKWZKT
— Parker Thomas (@ParkerJThomas) April 1, 2018
The students will join the Rev. Al Sharpton for a gun control rally in June, Sharpton’s National Action Network announced on Saturday. One of the related issues that the students have expressed, in the aftermath of the massacre, is their fear of the increased law enforcement presence at their school in response to the shooting. It’s a change that will be seen at more schools under the Trump plan.
More cops on campus doesn’t mean more protection, Kai Koerber, a 17-year-old Stoneman Douglas junior told the Miami Herald. It means more chances for police brutality.
“It’s bad enough we have to return with clear backpacks. Should we also return with our hands up?” he asked rhetorically, referring to the “hands up don’t shoot” demonstrations in after the wave of police shootings of unarmed Black males that began in 2014.
SEE ALSO:
Ben Carson Tells A Black Woman To Escape Poverty She Needs To Get Married
Hours Before Devonte Hart’s Family Went Off Cliff, 911 Call Reported Siblings Were Being Starved

95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
1.

2.

3.

5.

7.

9. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

10.

11.

12.
13.

14.
15.

17.

19.

20.
Source: 20 of 9521.

22.
Source: 22 of 9523.

24.
This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
25.

26.
This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
27.

28.
Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project National Office (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
29.

30.
Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project National Office (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
31.

32.
I hope one day I will get as many rights as a gun. - A Black American #marchforourlives pic.twitter.com/5yFiZ18Jid
— Bradley E. Williams (@B_RadWill) March 24, 2018
33.

34.
I hope one day I will get as many rights as a gun. - A Black American #marchforourlives pic.twitter.com/5yFiZ18Jid
— Bradley E. Williams (@B_RadWill) March 24, 2018
35.

36.
#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
37.

38.
#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
39.

40.
I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan Grimes (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
41.

42.
I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan Grimes (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
43.
So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— megan 41 (@mutualpromisess) March 24, 2018
44.

45.
So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— megan 41 (@mutualpromisess) March 24, 2018
46.

47.
Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
48.
Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
49.
Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
50.

51.

52.
Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
53.

54.
#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— Megan B. (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
55.

56.
#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— Megan B. (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
57.

58.
#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
59.

60.
#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
61.
I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
62.

63.
I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
64.

65.
These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy 🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
66.

67.
These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy 🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
68.

69.

70.
Source: 70 of 9571.
Source: 71 of 9572.

73.
#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— Kam 🛸 (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
74.

75.
#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— Kam 🛸 (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
76.
The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
77.

78.
The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
79.

80.
I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
81.
I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
82.

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

90. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

91. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

92. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

93. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC

95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
Black folks were representing in full force at the dozens of March for Our Lives rallies held across the globe on March 24, 2018, attracting hundreds of thousands of students, activists, celebrities and other world citizens concerned about the disturbing levels of gun violence that plagues the U.S like no other nation. As the disproportionate victims of gun violence in America, Black people made sure their voices were heard. Have a look at the youthful faces of the country's current and future freedom fighters as well as their colorful, clever signs.
Black Parkland Students Could Effectively Challenge Trump’s School Discipline Policy was originally published on newsone.com