In recent weeks, the Rochester Police Department has targeted groups of students from the Rochester City School District. The students have gathered after school to transfer buses at the landmark Liberty Pole in downtown Rochester, New York.  In a video story at democratandchronicle.com produced by Max Schulte a police representative said:

“They [the students] try to dance, what they call jerking…were not allowing that.  It can turn into a problem in a hurry so we’ve decided not to allow it at all”.

The irony of “we’ve decided” and “not to allow it at all” at the LIBERTY POLE should be obvious to even the most conservative.

Join me in this petition to ask David T. Moore, Chief of Police and Louis Burgos, Commissioner of Recreation and Youth Services to positively engage the students in productive activities and performances.

Students should be encouraged to explore literacy and celebrate culture where it happens naturally.