Cops out of schools and National Guard out of Minneapolis!

Cops out of schools and National Guard out of Minneapolis!

Speech given by Thistle Parker-Hartog, member of the Anti-War Committee, at the Student Movement Activists of South High protest for justice for Anthony Thompson Jr.  

The Anti-War Committee stands in solidarity with our Black and brown community as we mourn yet another life stolen by the police.  We are outraged that Anthony Thompson, Jr. could not be safe in his own school and add our voices to the demand of Cops out of our Schools!

As the mother of a high-schooler, I acknowledge that my child’s privileged white skin will likely keep him safe, but I am outraged that that privilege could be the difference between life and death for some other parent’s child. I am terrified for my son’s Black and brown friends, and for all our youth of color who should, if nowhere else, be safe at school.

Minneapolis Public Schools claims they will not cooperate with ICE and tells us our immigrant youth are welcome at school.  Why is it any better to have an armed police officer or private contracted security in the building?  Such a presence is nothing but intimidating to our BIPOC youth, whether they are an African-American already traumatized by police brutality in their community, an undocumented Central American afraid of deportation, or an East African refugee who has fled the violence of war.

In the Anti-War Committee, we understand that our work to end U.S. militarization and occupation around the world is inextricably linked to the militarization of the police and the occupation of our streets at home and in our schools.   We will continue to stand and fight side-by-side with everyone here in the struggle for justice for Anthony Thompson Jr, for Daunte Wright, for George Floyd, for Adam Toledo, for Dolal Idd, for Brianna Taylor,  and for every other Black and brown life stolen by the police.

“Occupation is a crime; from Minneapolis to Palestine”