New York, NY – RJPS and DSC-NY heavily condemn NYPD’s actions against a Black high schooler and call for an immediate investigation into the incident. Amidst the happiness and joy of the NY Knicks ticker-tape parade, a violent police interaction happened yesterday: a Black student on his way to take his NYC Regents Exam was stopped, held down, and restrained by at least four police officers, while countless officers stood by and watched. The student explained to the police that he was on his way to school to take an end-of-year test, and the crowd around them was appalled by the treatment of the student. We commend NYCDOE for addressing this and making sure the student was able to get to their school to take their Regents exam.

In the midst of celebrating athletes whose identities mirror much of our student body, incidents like this are far too common, both historically and currently. Our elected officials should address and redress this reality here and now. All our students deserve to feel safe and respected. On a day-to-day basis, our young people are subject to the brutality of undignified interactions with police, school safety agents, and adults who treat them as criminals and not young people navigating a system that wasn’t designed to support their growth and dignity. 

We need NYC to protect the safety of our Black students in particular. We call on Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the NYC Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, and other elected leaders to demand an investigation into this incident and to redirect from police and forms of surveillance toward resources that address real student needs. NYC currently spends close to $400 million per year on school policing—funds that could instead be used to provide mental health services, guidance counselors, social workers, and restorative justice coordinators. Schools need resources like restorative justice practices, trauma-informed counseling, and culturally responsive education to address behavioral concerns in ways that support students rather than criminalizing them.

We also call on the Mayor, City Council and Chancellor to divest from policing children and invest that money in Restorative Justice practices that help our students, not harm them. 

Schools that implement restorative justice programs see decreases in suspensions, school conflicts, and dropout rates. NYC has already piloted restorative justice programs with success, but expansion has been hindered by continued investment in school policing rather than student-centered supports. Schools that focus on relationship-building, emotional support, and inclusive discipline practices create safer environments than those that rely on punitive measures and heavy surveillance. Every student deserves to enter a school where they feel welcomed, supported, and understood—rather than criminalized and surveilled.

Lastly, we also call on Speaker Julie Menin and Deputy Whip Councilwoman Elsie Encarnación to amend the new regulation introduced on buffer zones around our public institutions. This is a clear example of the unintended consequences we have been talking about for months and why Intro 175B failed. We need investment in our young people and not continued targeting of their humanity by policing their bodies. Black and brown youth and communities know that incidents like this are the norm, not an exception; a reality the City Council must not sideline.