... Demanding Passage of Student Safety Act
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Hundreds of young people stood on the steps of City Hall to demand transparency and accountability from the massive police presence in New York City’s schools. They were joined by the Student Safety Act and Harlem City Council members Robert Jackson and Melissa Mark-Viverito and Queens City Council member John Liu.
The Student Safety Act would require quarterly reporting by the Department of Education and NYPD to the City Council on school safety issues, including incidents involving the arrest, expulsion or suspension of students, and a breakdown of information by students’ race, sex, and disability status. It also would expand the jurisdiction of the Civilian Complaint Review Board to include complaints against school safety agents, NYPD employees who have not had the rigorous training required to work in a school environment, yet patrol the schools and have the power to frisk, search and arrest students.
The Student Safety Act was introduced by Jackson and his 23 co-sponsors immediately following the rally. Intro. 816 is now with the committees on education and public safety.