Educators Rally for Police-Free Schools
Equity & Diversity Photos

Educators Rally for Police-Free Schools

By Bridget Fetsko — June 26, 2020 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

As protests against police brutality continue, parents, students and teachers from across the country are speaking out against the presence of police in schools. This week, educators in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles rallied to demand that funding be put toward additional services – including counselors, nurses, and classroom supplies for their students.

Chicago

Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on June 24, 2020.
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Youth activists stage a teach-in outside Chicago Board of Education President Miguel del Valle’s home in Belmont Cragin to demand an end to police presence in schools on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The Chicago Board of Education is set to decide whether to end Chicago Public Schools’ $33 million contract with the Chicago Police Department and pull police officers out of schools.
Youth activists stage a teach-in outside Chicago Board of Education President Miguel del Valle’s home in Belmont Cragin to demand an end to police presence in schools on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. The Chicago Board of Education is set to decide whether to end Chicago Public Schools’ $33 million contract with the Chicago Police Department and pull police officers out of schools.
Pat Nabong/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Stacy Davis Gates, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, speaks during a rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Stacy Davis Gates, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, speaks during a rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
From left, Stacy Davis Gates, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, and activist Eric Russell and Laurentio Howard, whose daughter was shoved and dragged by a Chicago Police officer stationed at Marshall Metropolitan High School, lead hundreds of supporters in a march through the Loop on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
From left, Stacy Davis Gates, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, and activist Eric Russell and Laurentio Howard, whose daughter was shoved and dragged by a Chicago Police officer stationed at Marshall Metropolitan High School, lead hundreds of supporters in a march through the Loop on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Chicago Teachers Union members and hundreds of supporters march through the Loop to call for the Chicago Board of Education to vote to end a $33 million contract between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Police Department on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP

Pittsburgh

Edoukou Aka-Ezoua holds a flag that reads “police free schools” as she listens to a speaker during the “Cops OUT of PGH Schools” rally to demand that police are removed from Pittsburgh public schools on Monday, June 22, 2020, outside the Pittsburgh Board of Education building. The rally occurred at the same time the school board was holding its meeting virtually.
Edoukou Aka-Ezoua holds a flag that reads “police free schools” as she listens to a speaker during the “Cops OUT of PGH Schools” rally to demand that police are removed from Pittsburgh public schools on Monday, June 22, 2020, outside the Pittsburgh Board of Education building. The rally occurred at the same time the school board was holding its meeting virtually.
Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP
Protesters hold signs and wear masks as they listen to a speaker during the “Cops OUT of PGH Schools” rally to demand that police are removed from Pittsburgh public schools on Monday, June 22, 2020, outside the Pittsburgh Board of Education building in Pittsburgh.
Protesters hold signs and wear masks as they listen to a speaker during the “Cops OUT of PGH Schools” rally to demand that police are removed from Pittsburgh public schools on Monday, June 22, 2020, outside the Pittsburgh Board of Education building in Pittsburgh.
Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP

Los Angeles

A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Edward Tillman wears a mask which reads “I can’t breathe” during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Edward Tillman wears a mask which reads “I can’t breathe” during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the downtown skyline during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
A demonstrator holds a sign in front of the downtown skyline during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Demonstrators holds signs during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Demonstrators holds signs during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Demonstrators raise their fists during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Demonstrators raise their fists during a protest to demand the defunding of the Los Angeles School District police outside of the school board headquarters on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Bridget Fetsko
Visuals Intern,  Education Week
Bridget Fetsko is a former visuals intern for Education Week.
Related Tags:
Discipline Teachers Race California Illinois Pennsylvania

A version of this article first appeared in the Full Frame blog.

Events

Wed., October 21, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar Better Tools, Not More: What Educators Say About Teaching and Technology
Optimism is up. AI use is rising. Coherence is the next challenge. Hear what the 2026 Educator Confidence Report reveals about the field.
Content provided by HMH
Register
Thu., October 22, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Achievement Webinar The Relationship Advantage for Attendance, Engagement, and Achievement
Relationship-building goes beyond back-to-school. Get practical ideas from district leaders and educators to strengthen student connections.
Content provided by Sanford Harmony, National University
Register
Fri., October 23, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET
School & District Management Webinar EdMarketer Quick Hit: Build Campaigns That Engage K-12 Leaders
We’ll share what’s resonating with Education Week’s K-12 audience based on user behavior across platforms and other proprietary data.
Register
See More Events

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs
Create Your Own Job Search

Read Next

Equity & Diversity Trump Extends Anti-DEI Push to Private Schools, Eyeing Their Tax-Exempt Status
Schools that give racial minorities preferences would lose tax-exempt status under newly proposed rules.
Alyson Klein
•
5 min read
A sign for the Internal Revenue Service building is pictured in Washington, May 4, 2021.
A sign for the Internal Revenue Service building in Washington on May 4, 2021. The agency has proposed new regulations that would threaten the tax-exempt status of any private school that give racial minorities preference in admissions, scholarships, and programming.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Equity & Diversity Ed. Dept. Releases Data on Schools' Racial Disparities Months Late
The data is supposed to highlight racial, ethnic, and disability-based disparities in schools.
Stephen Sawchuk & Matthew Stone
•
6 min read
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, January 22, 2026: Students at Washburn High School fill the stairwell during passing time in Minneapolis, MN.
Students fill the stairwell in between classes at a high school in Minneapolis on Jan. 22, 2026. The U.S. Department of Education has released data designed to highlight disparities in schools, but it did so quietly and without issuing a report highlighting top-line findings.
Caroline Yang for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Opinion I Wasn't Ready When a New Slur Hit My Middle School Class. I Will Be Next Time
Anti-immigrant rhetoric does not stop at a school's gates, even where many students are immigrants.
Jacobo Coronel
•
4 min read
Image of a bold red speech quotation mark, filter, and a sponge.
Laura Baker/Education Week + Canva
Equity & Diversity Opinion How Should White Teachers Show Up for Their Colleagues of Color?
Racial equity demands fewer allies and more co-conspirators. Here’s why the distinction matters.
Larry Ferlazzo
•
8 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week