Leaders Igniting Transformation Successfully Rallied and Influenced the Vote to Terminate MPS and MPD’s Contract
After two and a half years of Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) advocating, on June 18, 2020, Milwaukee Public Schools voted unanimously to end contracts with the Milwaukee Police Department. A day before the MPS board voted, LIT held a rally that brought students, teachers and the community together to not only share their voices but to make sure the MPS board voted in their favor.
Fewer police officers and more counselors were the overall themes at the rally.
“I’m tired of seeing my friends scared of MPD for just being human with a darker skin tone,” said Journee Harrington, a LIT youth. “I just wish we could all come together as one. We have been attacked for so long and enough is enough.”
With the recent tragedies with police brutality seen in the media, students feel that these past incidents are shining the light on the change that needs to happen in the world today.
LIT is an organization who are strong supporters of Black and Brown youth and advocating for policies that affect the youth at first hand.
Journee Harrington. (Picture by Michael Snowden)
“Other actions can be taken before requesting the police. Implementing alternative resources that will support students would be a major benefit of removing officers out of school buildings,” Harrignton said in a speech during the rally.
LIT provides opportunities for youth to get involved in their communities to allow their voices to be heard in significant ways. Youth are the fighting force for change and the time is now to listen to their problems and concerns.
“Being here today, at this point, feels very empowering. I never realized how powerful my voice was until LIT gave me and my peers the platform to be heard,” said LIT youth Johnny Spingola.
The rally had several hundred supporters come out as a collective to bring about change for students in schools. “Black students matter. Police are sworn to protect and serve the streets, not schools,” were amongst the conversations being held by many MPS students and teachers.
Madison Walker is a recent graduate of MPS and she stated that the presence of police officers in schools takes away from the importance of why students are in school.
Hundreds of students, teachers and community members rallied to end MPS and MPD’s contract. (Picture by Claudio Martinez)
"We had senior pranks. I don’t think the police should have been called for our senior prank. Bringing eggs and toilet tissue to school. There shouldn’t be police outside of school giving us tickets for doing our senior prank,” said Walker.
This victory for LIT, the students and the community only proves that when we let the youth lead, things can be changed.
To find out more about LIT’s victory and their continuous efforts, click here.