Black Lives Matter
A Statement from members of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors
The marches against police brutality across the country have been a powerful example for all. Under the clarion call “Black Lives Matter,” young people are showing their passion and commitment to justice.
Members of the Board of School Directors of Milwaukee Public Schools stand with Black youth and their communities in opposing all racist systems of oppression including laws, policies, and government actions. The disproportionate rates of suspensions and expulsions, mass incarceration, the war on drugs, unjust policing, voter suppression, and the underfunding of public schools, as well as, structural policies like redlining, gentrification, employment discrimination, and more— all have disastrous consequences on Black communities.
W.E.B. Dubois said, “The educators of Black youth must believe in them. They must have faith in them and their community. They must trust them and encourage them and defend them.”
Members of the MPS Board of School Directors will be calling on and working with the Superintendent and the Administration to engage the school district in discussion with MPS students and families. We are committed to the emotional and physical safety of Black students and other youth of color. It means that our schools and classrooms must be safe spaces for dialogue, listening to students, and support on the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement. We have a responsibility to end the school-to-prison pipeline and ensure that the curriculum is anti-racist and culturally relevant.
More immediately, we call upon the Milwaukee Police Department to publicly renounce the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and other aggressive measures against peaceful protesters exercising their first amendment rights.
Members of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors are calling on all educators, families and community to join us in this effort.
Black Lives Matter!
Download a copy of the full statement from
members of the Board of School Directors.
More about the 2020 Racial Justice Protests
- Op Ed: ‘We Need More’ - Charles Q. Sullivan - Mar 4th, 2022
- Milwaukee Officers Circulate “2020 Riot” Coins? - Isiah Holmes - Nov 14th, 2021
- City Hall: Police Department Tweets Lied To Public - Jeramey Jannene - Oct 27th, 2021
- Lawmakers Request Civil Rights Probe of Tosa PD - Isiah Holmes - Jul 23rd, 2021
- How Does Police Reform Compare To Other Cities? - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 14th, 2021
- Bowen Introduces Package of Policing Bills - Isiah Holmes - Jun 4th, 2021
- Activists Reflect on a Year of Protest - Isiah Holmes - Jun 3rd, 2021
- One Year After George Floyd’s Death - Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service - May 30th, 2021
- Op Ed: After a Year of Protests What’s Changed? - Angela Lang - May 27th, 2021
- Film: Bullhorn Films Documents Protests - Michael Holloway - May 20th, 2021
Read more about 2020 Racial Justice Protests here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Milwaukee Board of School Directors
Black Lives Matter
Jun 5th, 2020 by Milwaukee Board of School DirectorsA Statement from members of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors
Larry Miller Elected President, Milwaukee Board of School Directors
May 1st, 2019 by Milwaukee Board of School DirectorsLuis Antonio (Tony) Báez Elected Vice-President, Committee Assignments Announced
