Thirty people listened to Janelle Wood (pictured) from Black Mothers Forum on Feb. 19 discuss the misuse of school disciplinary systems to enhance the school to prison pipeline for children of color, especially Black children. There was no school discipline system until integration when a method of controlling Black children had to be found. In Arizona, Black children are 8 times more likely to be expelled and Native children 10 times. School officials and prison officials have met to smooth the move from one to the other. SROs are the beginning of the process and are supremely unqualified to have access to children. Black Mothers Forum organizes parents to work in the school districts to create a better learning environment for their child and every child.
Central Phoenix NOW was a co-sponsor of this event.