澳门跑狗论坛

Equity & Diversity Photos

The Role of K-12 Students in Protests Against Racism and Police Brutality

By Bridget Fetsko 鈥 June 17, 2020 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

Following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, protests against police violence have taken place across the country and around the world. Students of every age have joined their communities to speak out for racial justice.

From student-organized demonstrations to graduating seniors wearing their regalia, and younger children attending with their families, these students are protesting and taking a stance against racism. Many students have turned the conversation to the implications of racism on their own education, including the presence of police in schools.

High school senior Diego Garcia speaks with attendees during a rally against the Chicago Police Department鈥檚 presence in Chicago Public Schools.
A tear runs down the cheek of MacKenzie Mitchell, one of the protest organizers among Berkner High School students, at Berkner Park on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Richardson, Texas, as protests continue after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Young demonstrators hold a sign Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Culver City, Calif. during a student-led protest over the death of George Floyd who died May 25 after he was restrained by Minneapolis police.
Shelley Davenport stands with her son Rannoch Davenport-Davis, 6, nephew Thane Davenport-Stitzer, 6, niece Constance Davenport-Stitzer, 6, and daughter Cat Davenport-Davis, 8, at a silent vigil for victims of police brutality, at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Pittsburgh. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been to a protest before in my whole life but I can鈥檛 stand it anymore. As a Christian, it鈥檚 wrong what鈥檚 happening to God鈥檚 children. I want this to be one of their first memories,鈥 Davenport said.
Gaithersburg High School homecoming queen Makayla Robinson speaks to a group of bicyclists at the words Black Lives Matter painted in bright yellow letters on part of 16th Street renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza, a site of protests, Friday, June 12, 2020, near the White House in Washington. The protests began over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis. Floyd died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers.
Jalen Shaw, a graduate of Fridley High School, visits the memorial site for George Floyd on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.
Graduating seniors Shamar Poole, 17, left; Amier Hatcher, 17, center; and Fendi Garth, 18, stand with their fists raised in the air in solidarity alongside the school鈥檚 rock painted 鈥淏LM鈥 for Black Lives Matter at Grand Blanc High School on Thursday, June 4, 2020, before their commencement ceremony in Mundy Township, Mich. The trio stood together to honor George Floyd, urge an end to racial injustices and police violence.
Blake High School student, Ayr鈥橰eka Gilghrest, 17, in a Juneteenth-themed dress, is pictured outside city hall during a clergy-led rally in the wake of ongoing demonstrations against police brutality and in celebration of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 13, 2020 in Tampa.
Jaylen Lee, 4, rides his scooter and looks at signs hanging on a police fence at 16th and H Street, Tuesday, June 9, 2020, with his mother, near the White House in Washington, after days of protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody in Minneapolis.
Chicago Public Schools students and supporters rally outside CPS headquarters on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, for the removal of police officers from schools.
Kayla Shannon, who graduated from Grand Blanc High School the day before, speaks to a group of people for a peaceful protest against police violence and racial injustice Friday, June 5, 2020, in Grand Blanc, Mich. Protests continued Friday across the United States and elsewhere in the wake of the death of George Floyd who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25.
Demonstrators shout slogans Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Culver City, Calif., during a student-led protest over the death of George Floyd who died May 25 after he was restrained by Minneapolis police.
Emily Croft, 17, a student at Stillwater High School, greets a participant Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Stillwater, Okla., at a rally to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. Croft organized the peaceful rally.
Skylar Williams, right, Florissant native and recent McCluer North High School grad, leads a chant with about 100 demonstrators outside the Florissant Police Department on Sunday, June 7, 2020 in Florissant, Mo. Protesters have turned their attention to the department after a new video of alleged police brutality by one of their officers emerged. The death of George Floyd at the hands of police last month in Minneapolis has sparked nationwide protest for police reform.
People rally outside Chicago Public Schools headquarters, June 9, 2020 for the removal of cops from schools.
Demonstrators observe a moment of silence Tuesday, June 9, 2020, in Culver City, Calif., during a student-led protest over the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 after he was restrained by Minneapolis police.

Related Tags:

Emma Patti Harris, Deputy Managing Editor, Visual and Immersive Experiences contributed to this article.
A version of this article first appeared in the Full Frame blog.

Events

School Climate & Safety K-12 Essentials Forum Strengthen Students鈥 Connections to School
Join this free event to learn how schools are creating the space for students to form strong bonds with each other and trusted adults.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of 澳门跑狗论坛's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Standards-Based Grading Roundtable: What We've Achieved and Where We're Headed
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of 澳门跑狗论坛's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
Creating Confident Readers: Why Differentiated Instruction is Equitable Instruction
Join us as we break down how differentiated instruction can advance your school鈥檚 literacy and equity goals.
Content provided by 

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide 鈥 elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Equity & Diversity Opinion Equity? Equality? How Educators Can Tell the Difference
Educators offer advice and examples for giving students what they need, rather than simply treating everyone the same.
10 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Equity & Diversity Judge Says State Can't Block Teachers From Discussing Critical Race Theory
The rule stops short of more broadly blocking Arkansas from enforcing its ban on certain topics.
2 min read
Students make their way into Little Rock Central High School on Aug. 24, 2020, for the first day of classes in the Little Rock School District. A federal judge ruled, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, that Arkansas cannot prevent two high school teachers from discussing critical race theory in the classroom, but stopped short of more broadly blocking the state from enforcing its ban on 鈥渋ndoctrination鈥 in public schools. The prohibition is being challenged by two teachers and two students at Little Rock Central High School, site of the 1957 desegregation crisis.
Students make their way into Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., on Aug. 24, 2020, for the first day of classes.
Tommy Metthe/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP
Equity & Diversity Opinion What March Madness Can Teach Schools About Equity
What if we modeled equity in action in K-12 classrooms after the resources provided to college student-athletes? asks Bettina L. Love.
3 min read
A young student is celebrated like a pro athlete for earning an A+!
Chris Kindred for 澳门跑狗论坛
Equity & Diversity What's Permissible Under Florida鈥檚 鈥楧on鈥檛 Say Gay鈥 Law? A New Legal Settlement Clarifies
The Florida department of education must send out a copy of the settlement agreement to school boards across the state.
4 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media, March 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Students and teachers will be able to speak freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms under a settlement reached March 11, 2024 between Florida education officials and civil rights attorneys who had challenged a state law which critics dubbed 鈥淒on't Say Gay.鈥
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media, March 7, 2023, at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Students and teachers will be able to speak freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms under a settlement reached March 11, 2024, between Florida education officials and civil rights attorneys who had challenged the state's 鈥淒on't Say Gay鈥 law.
Phil Sears/AP