We, the students of Detroit Public Schools Community District, recently learned about our district's plan to expand the Project Green Light police surveillance into our schools. Project Green Light allows live surveillance footage to be monitored by police at the Real Time Crime Center. The Randolph Career Technical Education School is the first school to sign up for cameras to be installed, and we know our schools might be next.
As leaders of the March for Our Lives Detroit, we believe school safety is of the utmost importance. However, we do NOT support our privacy being violated or our every moment being treated like criminal behavior. Constant surveillance does not make students safer. In fact, as youth of color, we are already over policed and disproportionately arrested by law enforcement compared to our white peers. These cameras make us feel unsafe.
This money should be used for more important things - like textbooks and mental health support for students. These are resources that actually prevent violence - not cameras.
We ask that students, teachers, parents, and community allies from across the state sign this petition to support DPSCD students and amplify our voices as we demand our right to attend school without being treated like criminals.
To learn more about Project Green Light and its expansion into our learning communities please read below:
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2018/04/03/detroit-expands-its-surveillance-monitoring-program-to-include-schools
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/01/23/detroit-green-light/109524794/
https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/project-green-light-faces-scrutiny-as-detroit-eyes-mandate-for-thousands-of-businesses/Content?oid=8539251
