Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by High School Student and Youth Leader from Make the Road New York and Urban Youth Collaborative
7:07:58
·
3 min
A high school student from Brooklyn, testifies about the need for police-free schools and increased support for students. She shares personal experiences of how school policing negatively impacts students and calls for investment in counselors, mental health support, and restorative justice programs.
- Describes negative experiences with school police, including invasive searches and rude treatment
- Contrasts this with positive experiences from supportive teachers who make her feel validated
- Calls on the City Council to fully fund student futures and "real safety," emphasizing care and community over policing
High School Student
7:07:58
My name is Amy.
7:07:59
I'm a junior in high school from Brooklyn and a youth leader at Make Throne, New York.
7:08:04
And the Urban Youth Corravative, Last week, I was in Albany speaking for the New York for all bill legislation that will protect immigrants, New Yorkers, including myself with the new administration.
7:08:19
New York must be protected, also protect immigrant students by divesting from all forms of school policing and punitive practice.
7:08:31
It's time to shift funding away from system that fueled the school the school to deportation pipeline and instead invest in those that are truly support and protect students.
7:08:44
After a long day, I am here because I care about real safety, not police, but my but more counselors, mental health support, restorative justice, and college access.
7:08:56
Schools should be a place where students should feel safe to learn and grow.
7:09:00
There's no evidence that police prevent conflict.
7:09:03
If anything, they often make things worse.
7:09:05
In my experience, having school police is destructive.
7:09:09
Every morning, hundreds of students often show up on time, but the metal detectors and slow scanning make a slate due to the long lines.
7:09:17
The school the school police speak to us rudely and pull students aside for extra checks.
7:09:24
It feels like there's no way to win as a student.
7:09:26
Despite my best efforts to come on time and do well, I'm not welcome.
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Instead, I'm targeted.
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I've I've seen students pulled from the line and taken to bathrooms by teachers and school officers for searches, including under their clothes.
7:09:42
One of my friends went through this after scanning.
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They suspect something was hitting in her shirt.
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So she lift up her shirt for a full shirt even though there was nothing found.
7:09:52
She came she came out angry and embarrassed and delayed made the rest of the rest of us even later to class.
7:10:01
But on the other hand, I have two amazing teachers, my ELA and my model UN teacher who makes me truly happy to be safe and safe in school.
7:10:10
They have supported me through tough times and helped me grow as a student.
7:10:14
Just seeing them smile when I walk reminds me that I'm in a place where I'm validated.
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Now I imagine if every student had led supportive, had supportive staff like them, the impact would be powerful.
7:10:27
Instead of being greeted by police yelling at us in the hallways, we would be needed with care, respect, and support.
7:10:34
We need to be we need to be successful even though the education investment mayor Adams recently announced in the budget, he still continues to fund more school police than counselors, social workers, and restorative justice staff.
7:10:50
We are calling on city council to choose differently to fully fund our futures and real safety.
7:10:57
Choose safety means care and community, not police or ICE.
7:11:01
Our schools should be spaces to learn and belong.
7:11:04
We don't need to be criminalized as we enter our school building.
7:11:08
We need to be treated as students and future leaders.
7:11:11
Removing police would improve our school environments.
7:11:15
Funding should go towards real safety and support.
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Counselors, mental health, RJ Collaborative, and more.
7:11:22
It is time to invest in us, give police free schools, and the resources our school so desperately needs.
7:11:29
Thank you.
7:11:29
I owe my time to the chair.