Violence in Los Angeles schools has nearly doubled since police were removed from campuses following the riots over George Floyd's murder in 2020. Data from the school district revealed a significant increase in violent incidents, rising from 2,315 in the 2018-2019 school year to 4,569 in 2022-2023.
Maria Luisa Palma, a member of the Parents Advisory Committee in Los Angeles, organized a petition calling for the return of police on school campuses. Palma highlighted concerns about fights, open drug use in bathrooms, and the overall safety of students. The petition has garnered over 2,500 signatures from parents across various schools and districts.
On the other hand, Students Deserve, a student organization advocating for the abolition of police in schools, argued that police presence led to the criminalization of students, particularly those from marginalized communities. The group successfully lobbied for the reallocation of $25 million from school police to alternative support services like counselors and restorative justice programs.
Despite the pushback from parents like Palma, the LAUSD school board voted to remove officers from schools and rejected a resolution to reinstate police. The board is now working on a new safety plan, but it remains unclear whether it will involve the return of police officers to schools.
The debate between parents advocating for increased security measures and activist groups calling for the removal of police officers continues to unfold in Los Angeles schools, highlighting the complex dynamics surrounding school safety and policing.
