Danielle Blocker • August 1, 2024
Testify for Restorative Justice at MCPS' Budget Forums!
The Problem: Thanks to our collective work, we successfully removed police from outside MCPS schools in 2021. However, MCPS reintroduced armed police officers in schools under the new ‘CEO’ model a few months later, and students report a return to pre-pandemic levels of police in schools.
There is meanwhile a continued need for culturally competent, fully funded restorative justice in MCPS. We ended 2021 with a partial funding win, with part-time restorative justice coaches in most MCPS secondary schools. Recent reporting from MCPS has shown that when implemented with fidelity, Restorative Justice significantly reduces racial disparities in MCPS’ school to prison pipeline. But with a significant lack of resources for RJ, we are far from full implementation of RJ across MCPS schools. In fact, MCPS’ own evaluations found that only 3% of schools were at a ‘mature’ stage of RJ implementation.
The Solution: The Decriminalize Montgomery County Campaign (previously the MC Defund/Invest Coalition) is now organizing to demand increased funding for Restorative Justice in MCPS, to hire full time RJ coaches in every secondary school. We know that successfully implemented RJ will require buy-in form all stakeholders across the school system — and full-time RJ staff in each secondary school are a key step to make this happen.
Omodamola spent most his life in Prince George's county and was born Washington DC. Currently he resides in Montgomery county. Omodamola is very passionate about community development and social equality. He have dreams of pursing a career as a public servant to make a direct impact on society and to motivate others to be their best selves.
Shelemiah Griffiths-Johnson is a Talented and Gifted scholar who is currently in the 9th grade. He currently serves as the Chairman for the Inaugural Bowie Youth Council, Parliamentarian for the Prince George's Regional Association of Student Governments, and The Youth Member of the Interfaith Coalition of Bowie. He was the 2021 NJHS Parliamentarian in middle school, District 5 Student Leadership Council Member. He is a Varsity Division Debater with the Washington Urban Debate League. He hosts his own television show, “The Shelemiah Show” on Comcast 77 and Verizon 11 daily at 7 P.M. Shelemiah has won many awards such as 1st place in the County National History Day, 1st- place 2020, and 3rd Place 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King Video contest. He has been recognized by Maryland Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford for his participation in the BIZ Kids Entrepreneurial program. He is an inspirational speaker and teen activist who is a voice for his generation in the community. He speaks against injustices and advocates against bullying. He has shared the stage with city officials and elected leaders to speak against police brutality. Shelemiah takes time out to support marches to evoke change in education and against racial injustices. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games. He also loves competitive swimming, art, cooking healthy meals, and traveling. Shelemiah aspires to be a Chemical Engineer, but says that may change as his love for Tech is growing. At heart, Shelemiah loves serving his community. His philanthropic works include feeding the homeless, working with his Destination Imagination team to fill the local food pantry, kind acts for children with cancer at Children's hospital, and sharing his love for STEM by teaching students in the community. His most memorable act of service was to fly to Puerto Rico to help the homeless and volunteer at an all-boys shelter. He is dedicated to using his voice as a catalyst of change, via speaking at marches and sitting on panels that address issues for students who are marginalized and face numerous challenges, especially those of color. Shelemiah enjoys doing things that bring all communities together.
Am Stanly Emadione Mejame,33 years old of Cameroonian origin ,an asylum seeker and a new YPP fellow.I believe in the power of diversity and unity.I run by mostly two core values justice and equality for all irrespective of their race,colour,religion, political affiliation or social group.Yes!!!! together we can do all things by the special grace of God.
Hi, my name is Sophia Renee Gupman. I am a junior at Northwood High School. I enjoy doing theatre both inside and outside of school. When not doing theatre, I enjoy doing arts of all sorts, especially fiber arts. I am also a member of Montgomery County Rabbit 4H club. I raise mini lops and love working with animals.
Jennifer Okosun is a dedicated and passionate advocate on social issues primarily affecting African-American communities. Born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland and an alumni of the first graduating class of Northwood High School since it’s reopening. She began advocating in 2012 around issues such as affordable housing, two-generational programming at the library, and police brutality. Jennifer is also the 2018 Community Action Agency Advocacy Institute graduate in Montgomery County, Maryland. Now, Jennifer is working as a Police Free Schools Fellow at Young People for Progress and excited to continue her advocacy work in Montgomery County, Maryland. She enjoys being creative through the arts and entertainment by painting, acting, writing, and singing. She also enjoys baking vegan cupcakes with her ten year old daughter.
Young People for Progress member David Atkinson, led a virtual rally in support of the Annapolis, MD Rally hosted by the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability (MCJPA). Hear from fellow organizers and YPP members on repealing the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights (LEOBR) and the need for police reform, transparency, and accountability.
Maryland advocates are keeping up the momentum towards repealing the state’s controversial Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights (LEOBR) . Enacted in 1974, Maryland was the first state to adopt a law that provided extensive protection and due process requirements for law enforcement officers being investigated for police misconduct. Since the May 25th murder of George Floyd more than 36 states have introduced bills to address the issues of police accountability. Despite declining trust towards police officers, critics who oppose the repeal believe that the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights is both fair and impartial.
Monday, September 28th, 2020 Dear Councilmember Jawando, Since protests erupted across the U.S. calling for an end to rampant police violence, it has become clear that the last place police should be is in our schools. Students, parents, and teachers deserve schools that are safe, accepting, and compassionate spaces for children. Children should be free from the inordinate and excessive punishment and policing that occurs when police are in schools. No study has ever found that police presence decreases violence in schools, and the data show that in Montgomery County, Black students, students of color, and disabled students are excessively over-policed and arrested at higher rates than their white and able-bodied classmates. It is time to end the practice of policing in our schools and remove school resource officers (SROs) permanently. Since May 25th of this year, unceasing protests across the country have been calling for lasting change to end violent, racialized brutality at the hands of police. This may be the strongest call to end racial injustice in our lifetime. The issues being addressed in this historical moment are urgent and demand decisive, lasting change. They require the permanence of law, not a temporary budget savings measure that can be easily reversed. We must not let this moment pass without making lasting changes to our systems of policing. That is why we are calling on you to propose a bill to the County Council to remove SROs permanently from Montgomery County Public Schools. The call to remove police from schools is being heard across the country. Already in Minneapolis, Denver, Milwaukee, and Portland, Oregon, school systems have ended their contracts with police and voted to phase police out of schools. It is time for Montgomery County to step up and take action. We have seen you join the protests and sympathize with our calls for action. We know that you understand the disproportionate and adverse effects school resource officers have on Black students, disabled students, and students of color. This moment we find ourselves in is a historic window for change. Do not let this moment pass without making this decisive change to give our children safer, more equitable schools. ACLU MD, Montgomery County Chapter ACLU of Maryland Asian American Progressive Student Union Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition Bonimot Tzedek (Justice Builders) CASA DC Teens Action Hear Our Voices MoCo Jews United for Justice Maryland Coalition to Reform School Discipline Maryland Poor People’s Campaign MoCo Against Brutality Moms of Black Boys United for Social Change Montgomery County Democratic Socialists of America Montgomery County Racial Equity (MORE) Network Montgomery County Students for Change Muslim Public Affairs Council Muslim Voices Coalition Progressive Maryland Public Justice Center Racial Justice NOW! DMV Chapter Showing Up for Racial Justice - Montgomery County, MD Silver Spring Justice Coalition Sisterhood of Salam Shalom Students Toward Equitable Public Schools Takoma Park Mobilization-Equal Justice Committee Young People for Progress Youth Creating Change Youth For Equity