On the very first day of school at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, a gun was discovered during a routine entry screening. Thankfully, the weapon was intercepted before it entered the building. No one was harmed, and Chicago police quickly took the individual into custody. But this near-tragedy is a stark reminder of how fragile school safety really is — and how much more must be done to protect students every single day.

Parents entrust schools with their children’s lives. Students deserve classrooms where the only thing they need to worry about is learning, not whether a weapon could slip past security. While Principal Joyce Harris and CPS officials emphasized that there was no direct threat to the community, the fact remains: a firearm was on school grounds, and it was only by chance and procedure that disaster was avoided.

Security cannot be treated as a one-time fix in moments of crisis. It must be consistent, strong, and ongoing. Entry screenings, trained personnel, and visible safety measures help deter threats before they start. Parents should never have to wonder if protections will fade once the headlines do.

We call on Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago, and CPD to ensure that Whitney Young and all CPS schools receive ongoing investment in safety measures — not just in response to incidents, but every day. That means reliable entry screening, trained security staff, mental health resources for prevention, and transparency for families about what protections are in place.

This incident ended without harm. But next time, we may not be so fortunate. Every parent and student deserves to walk into school with confidence that safety is not negotiable.

Sign this petition to demand that CPS and city leaders guarantee continued, strengthened protections at Whitney Young and throughout Chicago schools. Students’ lives depend on it.