BLM L.A. Celebrates Diverting Funds From School Police Budget
After powerful protests from BLM L.A. and Students Deserve, the Los Angeles School Board has diverted $25 million of the school police budget.
After a 13-hour discussion, the Los Angeles School Board approved a 35% budget cut from school police funding in a 4-3 decision.
Thank you for listening and for taking action. This is about more than words; it’s about MAKING #BlackLivesMatter. https://t.co/PfpRmuPphH
— Melina Abdullah (@DocMellyMel) July 1, 2020
The $25 million will be diverted into reimagining public safety, such as providing human-centered services such as counselors, nurses, and social workers. Los Angeles is not the first school district to defund school police. Six cities have started the movement of diverting school police funds into a new vision of safety in schools.
This follows the lead of the Black-led movement to #DefundSchoolPolice in Minneapolis, Denver, Oakland, SF, San Jose, and Portland. This $25 million cut by LAUSD is the LARGEST CUT TO SCHOOL POLICE IN THE NATION.
— #StudentsDeserve (@LA_StudentsDsrv) July 1, 2020
Students Deserve is an organization with students, parents, teachers, and members of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) who’s purpose is to advocate for Black Lives Matter in schools. They also advocate for Muslim, undocumented and LGBTQ+ students within the district. The community-based organization strives to stop inhumane and unjust treatment that these communities are subject to. They focus on creating new opportunities for a just and equal community. You can read more about Students Deserve and their partnership with Black Lives Matter here.
Black Lives Matter L.A. co-founder Melina Abdullah invites everyone to participate in BLMLA events such as town hall meetings, marches, and protests. Keep an eye out for her posts on Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date with the current events planned.
