After the Columbine massacre in 1999, schools nationwide were flooded with police officers. But in the 20+ years since, more than 311,000 children have experienced gun violence at school – all those cops didn’t prevent it!
After the recent elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, many are asking again: How did police let this happen?
The highly trained, highly funded Uvalde police not only waited 78 minutes to confront the shooter, but allegedly lied about the shooting, and even tackled and handcuffed parents!
But here’s the devastating truth: police actually didn’t HAVE to do anything.
In fact, multiple precedents in the Supreme Court show this. Civilians have sued police for not helping them when they were in danger – and failed!
Unless a police officer makes it their “special duty” to protect someone, they legally don’t have to do anything.
After mass shootings, police departments and school resource officers get more funding and personnel – even though they don’t seem to prevent them OR help during.
And we know more cops in schools means more harassment of Black and Latin students.
Despite the copaganda we're fed about their job, police aren’t heroes that swoop in to save us when we’re in crisis. By design, the police system picks and chooses who is worthy of being protected. And we all deserve better!