National Black Women’s Justice Institute Statement on Assault of Student at Liberty High School
The National Black Women’s Justice Institute released the following statement from Executive Director Dr. Sydney McKinney responding to video footage showing a white Osceola County Sheriff’s deputy assaulting a Black student at Liberty High School:
“I am deeply angry at the actions of the school resource officer who threw a young student to the ground and handcuffed her. We stand in solidarity with our partners and organizers calling for #PoliceFreeSchools in light of the #AssaultAtLiberty.
This incident is another painful example of why we must reexamine and replace policies that allow police on school campuses. Police in schools do not make students safer, especially Black girls; instead, it has led to a long history of overcriminalization of Black girls and gender-nonconforming youth—a direct result of institutionalized racism and sexism. Our schools must take a new approach to justice—an approach that supports girls and helps them thrive through counselors, social workers, and gender-affirming programs. We need healing-centered justice.”
Learn more about the work of NBWJI:
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About the National Black Women’s Justice Institute
The National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI) works to reduce racial and gender disparities across the justice continuum affecting Black women, girls, gender non-conforming people, and their families, by conducting research, providing technical assistance, engaging in public education, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for informed and effective policies. We conduct research, evaluation, and technical assistance from an intersectional lens that centers race/ethnicity and gender as well as gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation/identity for participants, staff, and partners organizations/individuals.