Protesters demand end to police in Pittsburgh Public Schools

A group gathered outside the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration building in Oakland Monday to demand an end to police presence in the schools.

Kenny Mitchell said having police in his son’s school scares him. His son is a sophomore.

“Every time you get a phone call from the school, your heart drops,” Mitchell said. “You’re always living in that fear.”

Mitchell was one of about 100 protesters who marched, spoke and sang despite the rain.

Several people spoke about their desire to replace police with social workers, counselors, and other resources. The group chanted mottos including, “No justice, no peace, no racist police” and “Enough is enough.”

The group spread into the street, closing down a block in front of the building. They carried signs calling for racial justice and school reform. Some wore bandanas that read “Defund the police.”

Angel Gober works with One Pennsylvania, one of the organizations sponsoring the event. She said she’s spent years fighting for change in the public education system.

“We’ve been working on education justice for six years,” she said. “We need our Pittsburgh Public Schools to take a step in the right direction.”

More black females are arrested in schools in Pittsburgh than anywhere else in the state, which is a problem Gober said needs to be addressed by removing police presence in schools.

Gober encouraged the crowd to contact school board representatives and vote out those who don’t support their movement.

Jacquea Mae, a Wilkinsburg native, took the microphone to sing during the event. As she performed, she sang the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others who have been killed by police.

In her ideal school reform, Mae said, there would be “more conversation, more community involvement, and less police.”

Paulette Foster of Homewood said she, too, envisions ways to improve Pittsburgh Public Schools.

“We want guidance counselors who don’t vilify our students. Our black and brown children need to be respected. They are human. Access to education is a human right,” Foster said.

Foster also noted that, while she protests against police in schools, she does support the idea of security guards who are not affiliated with the police department.

“We’re demanding the (school board) to come out of contract with school police,” she said. “The idea is to educate our security guards on de-escalation tactics.”

Gober said more than 100 people signed up to speak at the school board’s virtual meeting tonight.