Dear Fort Worth Independent School District,

In the wake of national outcry in response to the routine murder and brutality of Black people by law enforcement, concerned residents and parents of Fort Worth demand the Fort Worth Independent School District immediately cease all partnerships with the Fort Worth Police Department (and all other police departments).

The Fort Worth Police Department has consistently proven with their actions that Black people are disposable to them. In July 2016, the FWPD shot and paralyzed an innocent Black man, David Collie. In Nov. 2016, Henry Newson, a black man who had just been discharged from the hospital and was waiting for a ride home when two officers working security questioned why he was there, refused to leave, and a white officer punched him in the face. In 2016,  In 2017, a Fort Worth police sergeant was fired after he ordered a stun gun used on a black woman who had called police in a domestic disturbance incident involving her boyfriend. In 2018, there were 10 police-involved shootings, half of which involved people of color and four that were fatal. In 2019, FWPD murdered Atatiana Jefferson in her home with her nephew. In each of these incidents, there has been no (real) justice.

In the 2019 FWPD Racial Profiling Report, it is clear that Black people are still disproportionately impacted by policing in America. Although only 14% of Black households own vehicles, we make up 27% of vehicle stops by police. Nearly all "instances where peace officers used physical force that resulted in bodily injury" occurred in predominantly Black neighborhoods. In 2019, 206 Black people were searched during motor vehicle contacts while only 53 of those searches produced contraband/evidence. Each piece of data reveals what we've always known, Black people are overpoliced. Sadly, this is par-the-course for policing in America and completely on-brand for a city that has still not taken down its confederate statues.

Currently, the FWPD has unbridled access to surveil students "in
response to a call for service, when deemed necessary in the sole discretion of FWPD; or when deemed necessary, at the sole discretion of FWPD, to locate and identify information for law enforcement purposes." Agreements like these put Black students and students of color at an undeniable risk of police violence and overpolicing.

The FWPD has had too much time to "get it right". The city's failed Race and Culture Task Force in the 19 months since its inception, has not made any progress. All attempts to "reform" the FWPD "peacefully" or "diplomatically" have fallen flat. There is no hope in reform for policing in America. The prison industrial complex/policing system in America is neo-slavery. The answer to slavery is not to have cleaner, less-crowded plantations or better-trained, more diverse slavemasters. The answer to slavery is always abolition--there is no other way.

In 2020, concerned residents and parents are no longer interested in discussion, coming to agreements, or having a seat at the table. Accordingly, we unreservedly demand the FWISD ceases any partnerships with the FWPD (and all other police departments). This is inclusive of any previous contracts, events, security operations, student resource officers, memorandums of understanding, etc.