WHEREAS, as public-school educators, it is our responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of all students and to promote equity and justice for all students, families and communities we serve; and

WHEREAS, the relationship between the police and the public in the United States is complex and multifaceted, such that in some communities, there is a strong sense of trust and cooperation between the police and residents while in others, there is a history of mistrust and tension; and

WHEREAS, in some communities, residents experience interaction with police whose tactics are too aggressive, which leads to feelings of intimidation and fear in the neighborhoods where they live; and

WHEREAS, such violence undermines the trust between communities of color and law enforcement, and creates fear and trauma for students, families and educators; and

WHEREAS, incidents of police violence have been shown to negatively affect the mental well-being of society overall, including students and the educators who serve them; and

WHEREAS, research has shown that exposure to police violence can have negative impacts on students’ mental and physical health, academic performance and overall well-being; and

WHEREAS the UFT reaffirms resolutions previously passed by the Delegate Assembly on the police killings of George Floyd and Amadou Diallo as well as in response to the tragic deaths of police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the United Federation of Teachers condemns all forms of police violence, particularly against Black individuals; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT demands that the United States Justice Department immediately and thoroughly investigate the proliferation of elite, barely supervised, anti-crime tactical units in local departments across the nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT stands firm against those who, through legislation and educational policies, seek to erase our nation’s history and our collective memories, resulting in widespread miseducation about the systemic barriers to safety, security, advancement, and achievement; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT encourages ongoing education and dialogue within our schools and communities to raise awareness about the impact of police violence and to work together to build a more just and equitable society for all; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT supports consistent, regular, ongoing racial competence professional development for every public employee, working with and in our schools and their surrounding communities.