Elm City Montessori Students Protest Police Brutality

How sad that these wonderful children have to march to assert their humanity and their right to live as equal citizens under the law.
Children of the privileged classes don't have to, do they.

The author seriously believes that readers should accept that these under age 13 children thought up, and organized, this 'demonstration' of, and by, themselves?

Yes, of course....and the US Coast Guard will soon be patrolling West River on bicycle paddle boats.

IMO, this will not help HVN community policing initiatives, if, in fact, that continues to be an NHPD goal.

"... to protest the deaths of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant and others who have lost their lives at the hands of police officers." With the hope that the unfortunate death of these two young individuals is explained, examined, and understood in the real-life context and sad drama of what actually transpired. True and honest understanding (particularly for young children, black, brown, and white) is only worthwhile when the facts are uncorrupted by someone else's prejudice and political agenda.

How sad that teachers are deliberately miseducated students. The videos show that Bryant was shot as she was about to plunge a knife into another black woman. That woman's life mattered, so her assailant was shot. Toledo, of course, had had a gun in his hand less than a second before he was shot. Wright's death, of course, was a tragedy for which the officer will likely be convicted of manslaughter. All of these victims, however, found themselves on the wrong end of an officer's gun because of events which they themselves set in motion.

It would have more impact if it had been the idea of the children. This was created and designed by the adults. While the ideas are surely worthy; kids don't organize this. They are TOLD what to be concerned about--- which is a violation of Montessori philosophy for sure!

Teachers and educators created, promoted and managed this protest, according to this story. They chose to involve BLM and Kerry Ellington - one of the most vocal and controversial activists around and then capped this event by blocking traffic and infringing the rights of others. That's quite a lesson plan based on personal views.

PK - these kids don't have to march to assert their humanity. Neither do my mixed race kids. They're born with it and the privilege that comes from being born into the greatest nation on earth. They're surrounded by opportunity.

Facts - about a thousand people a year are killed by cops - half of them are white. About a quarter of them are black, about 19% are Hispanic. 100 cops are killed each year - all this according to the left leaning Washington Post.

Noteworthy: I find it interesting that in the past you have complained about your So called "mixed race" kids being racially profiled by the cops. I am glad to hear they survived those encounters.

Great action. Black Lives Matter. Awesome to see out schools stand firmly behind justice and amazing to see elementary students lead on this issue. Thanks to everyone who organized and participated in it.

The education of the young mind is a great and noble thing. For this education to be truly meaningful it is essential that it includes the very simple, but profound understanding that "One's behavior has consequences".

BLM has its own training program and I have been quite impressed with their positive protests. This is a movement that is growing the next generation of leaders and most of them are female.
Kerry Ellington was indefatigable in her advocacy for a Civilian Review Board. She has a record of achieving change.
What have her critics accomplished?
Activists put themselves on the line and not for personal gain, but for a better country for all.
As we said in the 60s and 70s, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

@owen@large: The first police report about the death of George Floyd was totally wrong and misleading. It was reported that there was a medical emergency and Floyd died at the hospital. We now know better, thanks to a teen's video and a jury decision.
No one should rely on the first report of these police shootings.
Here's NPR's report: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/20/989342784/16-year-old-black-girl-who-called-for-help-fatally-shot-by-police-ohio-family-sa.

Shame on the adults who manipulate these kids. The issues are diluted and disregarded when the statements of these kids are based on false information.

Jada: it's hard to understand your statement in the sense of who is being seen as dangerous when they should be regarded as brave? All races have brave folks and dangerous folks. The reality is the greatest threat to you, or more specifically your young male relatives, is not a police officer. Not even close.

If you're referring to judging a group by the actions that of a few I'm sure you can find plenty of support from your police officers.

Yanakyse: They do

P Kane: You're perpetuating this staged lie. It is sad that adults would use these kids as pawns to create a story.

Adam Toledo and Ma'Khia Bryant are solely responsible for their own deaths. If any others are to blame it is the adults in their lives, not the cops. Stop the foolishness that you read about above and teach these kids the truth and maybe you can avoid another Adam and Ma'Khia.

Then when these children protest they can protest on facts and credibility and make some progress.

@Fact Finder:

@Patricia Kane: Then you would have to agree that it would be wrong to imply (as this article clearly does) that the deaths of "13-year-old Adam Toledo, (and) 16-year-old Ma'Khia Bryant ... at the hands of police officers.", were on the same level as that of George Floyd. Certainly, until all the facts are known. And, as you've said, " No one should rely on the first report of these police shootings." Someone(s), who has the sacred task of educating these young children has already prejudged the sad killings of Adam Toledo and Ma'Khia Bryant and conflated these events with the established unlawful killings of Mr. G. Floyd and others. Indoctrinating the minds and hearts of these young children in this manner is prejudice to the max and needs to be called out.

Yes, marches and protests are usually organized and planned by adults. But that doesn't mean children don't think about these issues and aren't interested in participating when given the opportunities. One of my brothers belonged to a children's anti-nuclear weapons group during the Cold War. My parents and my friends parents and my parents friends and most of their children all went to civil rights, anti-war, anti-nuclear weapons, and pro-environmental
protests and marches, here in CT, in NYC and in DC during our childhoods. It taught me a great deal about social justice and social responsibility and caring about our planet and the quality of all the lives that exist on our planet. We often went on our own as teens to watch and participate in demonstrations usually organized by Yale students and local activists on Yale campus locations and on the New Haven Green such as anti-Aparthid, pro-unions, anti-wars, for Amnesty International causes, etc. etc.
I never felt pressured or manipulated by the adults, and mostly they asked us for our thoughts and impressions on what we had heard about the issues, and then they encouraged us to express ourselves. Anyone who didn't want to participate was given alternative options. Only the facts of the issues was provided, often presented alongside the views of the opposition, and then we made up our own minds about the issues. Children often are a lot more aware than many people realize, and they often want to learn more about the issues, and they need to be given an opportunity to express themselves.

@Owen@large: you have prejudged the killings, but you want to criticize others?

@ Kane

So the body camera footage that has been released to the public has been doctored. There is video proof that the officers were justified in these recent shootings. Toledo was I possession of a firearm just before he was shot Bryant was actively trying to stab another person. It's all there on video, so what Are the police trying to cover up. And how can you say that these two peoples actions did not lead to their deaths. If Toledo is not in possession of an illegal firearm and running form the police he would still be alive. If Bryant wasn't trying to stab another person with a knife she would still be alive. People's bad actions have consequences.

@heather nothing wrong with youth going on their own or with family/friends to protest or observe a protest. The problem here is its a public school activity. Are kids required to participate? Is a grade impacted by not participating or being critical of messaging from the teachers?

Would you support a public school march to defend the 2nd amendment or against abortion?

Westville Man - My son "survived" easily after his encounter with police, including profiling. Why? He did what he was told; showed respect, didn't flee the cops and didn't carry weapons. The stop was offensive to me and him - but what I taught him about respect for police and the shield - that sometimes these stops are questionable, some are not. In either case - if you get jammed up - well, that's what parents and lawyers are for. I'll just also note - while a great deal of press is given to POC shot by police, to the after stories of how nice the person was, how they were happy and loved their mother - deadly outcomes justified or not usually begin with bad decisions and bad choices. A fake $20 bill, resisting arrest, fleeing the cops, expired tags, trying to stab two other girls, running from police with a gun .

@Patricia Kane: Well of course you are wrong, once again. I am not prejudging the right to protest - protest all you want. What I am judging and what I am criticizing are grownups, the elders, conflating the deaths of the two young people with the killings of George Floyd, and then teaching this to the children as fact. It is not a fact and their deaths are not the same.

Kids make the case for a world where black people are not murdered by by police. This forum is then filled with comments from old white men rationalizing police murdering black people. It is hateful, it is racist, and it is just another example of why these kids need to be fighting so hard.

Noteworthy – like I said, I am glad he survived. I pray that there doesn't come a time he doesn't survive, even when he does "all the right things".
Then you can hire all the lawyers you want...

It is unfortunate that an article like this is attached to a debate about whether or not black lives matter. I don't believe this forum should give a platform to the causal rationalization the systemic tragedy and deep injustice of police murdering black people (e.g. "deadly outcomes justified or not usually begin with bad decisions and bad choices.").

Children participated in the civil rights marches and protests in the 1960's. Children taking part in civil disobedience isn't a rare occurrence throughout history. Often it is the voices of the children that speaks the most truth and gets the most attention of the public and the media on a cause.
The young people of color are often the target of negative attention from police, and what is considered typical teenager misbehavior in wealthier white communities and is treated with a warning and a talk with your parents from the authorities and is criminalized in poorer, higher minority population communities. Don't think that these children, as young as they are, don't feel the impact or see the difference in the way our country polices our minority youth and communities.

Dear BevHills730-- so only views that you agree with should be permitted? This is what the people now think of the First Amendment to our Constitution. Be careful what you wish for-- to prohibit one idea will eventually lead to suppression of all ideas. Or is that what you really want? I hope not; for the sake of our country

ECMS Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Director..

Looking at the budget and wondering if this is a full-time position?

City Yankee, you slandered black leaders based on information that was objectively and obviously false. Noteworthy regularly espouses racist and white supremacist viewpoints. These comments turn the dialogue into a sewer of vitriol, and a
shouting chamber where old white men can vent their frustrations and hate at the world. And that is too bad because the NHI articles are usually great and often show a deep understanding of New Haven.