If there are injustices happening in your school, you have the power to make your voice heard and make a difference. There is power in numbers because numbers allow you to amplify your concerns and the solutions that you propose. It’s easy to ignore one person–it’s a lot harder to ignore an entire community. Organizing is about building the power of people directly affected by an issue in order to bring about lasting change.
In many ways, organizing begins with conversations. If you are a student, talk with other students about your observations and concerns regarding school policing. Bring together a small group of your friends and classmates to discuss what’s happening at your school. Utilize social media or flyers to invite people to come together at a park, a library, or someone’s house. As you begin talking, what emerges as a problem?
Consider the following questions:
- Who is affected?
- How are they affected?
- Are people affected differently based on race, gender, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, language, ability, etc?
- What solutions could help bring about lasting change so that this issue no longer affects people?
