Across this nation, girls and gender-expansive young people of color continue to lead the fight to end police violence and other oppressive power structures that cause harm and disruption in their communities.
In the report, Power in Our Truths: Girls and Gender-Expansive Young People of Color Envisioning Future Free from Police Violence, a team of Women of Color researchers and scholar-activists, including NYU Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) affiliate and Applied Psychology Assistant Professor, Dr. Lauren Mims, partner with the Justice + Joy National Collaborative to share the perspectives and experiences of girls and gender-expansive young people of color of police violence and the broader criminal legal system. The report offers insights into their ideas for making change in their communities to advance its safety and address police violence systemically.
The report found three major findings: (1) Black girls and gender-expansive young people report feeling afraid of police officers and the encounters with police brutality; (2) There is a lack of widespread trust in the police among young people of color; and (3) Black girls and gender-expansive young people believe it is possible to propose systemic solutions and action to advance justice and safety within their communities.
Youth participating in the study shared several ideas to transform the broader legal system. The systemic solutions they proposed include:
- Holding police accountable to their actions
- Educating the public on the racialized history of the police force
- Reallocating funds from police to better social infrastructures
- Taking a community-based approach to reimaging policing and increasing safety and care
A central goal of this report is to amplify the leadership of girls and gender-expansive young people of color. Scholars, activists, and practitioners must work alongside them and honor their expertise as thought leaders in order to collectively reimagine new structures that will produce safety and security for everyone.
This is the first report in the Power In Our Truths series. For more information and to learn more, visit the Power in Our Truths Report Series page on the Justice + Joy National Collaborative website.
Suggested citation:
Harris, J.N., Washington, K.S., Mims, L.C., Weems, E. (2023). Power in Our Truths: Girls and Gender Expansive Young People of Color Envisioning Futures Free From Police Violence. Justice and Joy National Collaborative.
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