DAC-Floyd's Legacy Under Fire: Minnesota's Startling Reversal on Student Rights

In the heart of Minnesota, the battleground is set, and the powers that be are making moves that scream betrayal. The Minnesota House of Representatives, in a lopsided 124-8 vote, has thrown a hard-won ban on school resource officers using prone restraint on students right out the window. It's a slap in the face, happening just four years after George Floyd's life was stolen from him.

This ain't just politics; this is a fight for justice, reminiscent of the struggles our people have faced. They're flipping the script, turning their backs on the reforms that came after Floyd's murder. The ban on prone restraint was a crucial part of a larger movement against police brutality, and now they're trying to roll it back. It's a betrayal, plain and simple.

This so-called "SRO fix" bill they're pushing not only kicks the ban to the curb but also throws $150,000 at standardized training for school resource officers. Don't be fooled; it's a slick move in the political game, just like Malcolm X warned us about. They're trying to play us, trying to make it seem like they care about consistency and accountability when they're really just caving to law enforcement pressure.

Our advocates, echoing the spirit of Malcolm X's unapologetic fight for justice, are calling out the state leaders for turning their backs on the legacy of George Floyd. Khulia Pringle, from the National Parents Union, is asking the real questions. How is it that, in the very state where Floyd's life was stolen, they're now letting these folks use the same tactics on our kids?

The Republicans and law enforcement, they're flexing too. About 40 law enforcement agencies pulled their officers from schools when they caught wind of the restraint ban. It's like they can't stand any rule that challenges their power. Malcolm X said it best – real change always meets resistance from those clinging to the old ways.

This ain't just about legislative nuances; it's about justice, it's about our kids. The proposed legislation, in the name of creating "uniformity," is a smokescreen. It's a move to strip away the protections we fought for. They're talking about safety, but what about the safety of our children?

The Coon Rapids Police Department, they played the game too. Pulled their officers out and then did a 180 when the state attorney general gave them a pass. It's a dance they're doing, a game of smoke and mirrors. Captain Tanya Harmoning talks about consistency in training – we need consistency in justice, not in how they wield their power.

In the grand scheme, this debate ain't just confined to legislative chambers; it's playing out on the streets and in our schools. It's about how they see safety, about whose rights matter. They're trying to frame it like they're addressing confusion among law enforcement, but we see through that. It's a tactic, a ploy to undermine the changes we fought for.

The struggle against student restraints isn't just a local issue; it's a national fight. Democrats in D.C. have been trying to get a federal ban on student restraints for years. The numbers don't lie – Black students and those with disabilities bear the brunt of these tactics. It's an intersection of justice and equality that Malcolm X would recognize.

This legislation, wrapped up in a guise of caring about school resource officers, is a doorway into the bigger conversation about policing in our schools. It's a tug of war between keeping our kids safe and protecting their rights, a struggle Malcolm X would understand all too well. The talk of uniformity is a wolf in sheep's clothing – a call for consistency in oppression.

In the tapestry of this legislative drama, Malcolm X's spirit is there, reminding us of the ongoing fight for justice and equality. The decision to revisit the prone restraint ban isn't just a policy shift; it's a reflection of deep-seated issues where the echoes of history and the call for justice resonate. This legislation, wrapped in political games, stands at the crossroads of progress and regression, a challenge that echoes the struggles Malcolm X faced in his unyielding pursuit of justice.