Meaningful social justice requires solutions which take into account the myriad intersections of social injustice. The healing our community needs cannot be achieved without transformational justice; the restoration of a diverse, inclusive, and safe community to the extent that one existed before is not enough. We demand an end to systems that actively cause psychological and corporal harm to our community. As such, the #BlackAtNU platform is an invitation to act in a closer and more accountable sense of community amongst Northeastern students, faculty, staff, and senior leadership.
Embedded Files
For Immediate Action
For Immediate Action
PART 1: TERMINATION OF INTERAGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH BOSTON POLICE & ICE
PART 1: TERMINATION OF INTERAGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH BOSTON POLICE & ICE
Recognizing the enduring legacy of racism in modern policing within the United States, which finds its genesis in slave patrols, we call for the immediate termination of any and all interagency law enforcement agreements, such as Northeastern University’s Memorandum of Understanding with the Boston Police Department and agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Most importantly, the University should immediately issue an order to prevent the Boston Police Department from using Northeastern University Police Department (NUPD) equipment and Northeastern University property, such as quads, parking lots, and other University buildings to stage responses to ongoing protests in the City of Boston.
Recognizing the positive implications of similar structures at the University of Rochester, we believe that it is critical for the safety of the Northeastern community that the planned NUPD Community Advisory Board be given the powers and incorporated as an Oversight Committee.
This committee should oversee the immediate demilitarization of the NUPD, meaning that NUPD not be equipped with assault rifles and riot gear and that they are entirely de-armed (no lethal weapons) by the end of 2020.
PART 2: RESTORATIVE JUSTICE & SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING
PART 2: RESTORATIVE JUSTICE & SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING
With the ultimate goal of developing sustainable alternatives to policing, we propose that tuition and other university fees paid by students be directed away from funding the NUPD. These funds should be committed to expand and transform the Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution (OSCCR) into a Restorative Justice Center at Northeastern University designed to facilitate trauma response and healing for community members.
This newly converted Restorative Justice Center should be staffed with trained counselors and other relevant specialists to work with UHCS and OPEN to relieve the NUPD of the following duties:
Mental health checks
Incidents involving non-emergent medical transports
Incidents involving drug and substance abuse
The practices of the Restorative Justice Center should be grounded in principles as submitted by the Northeastern Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project:
"The central tenet of restorative justice is that the justice process belongs to the community. Communities must engage in remediating historical wrongs, sometimes through their governmental institutions and law, and sometimes in street-level organizing... Communities themselves must identify a context-tailored process that will further their needs as they themselves define them."
PART 3: Financial support for organizations making a difference
PART 3: Financial support for organizations making a difference
We recommend that the University make a contribution to the following funds and organizations working to address the effects of the ongoing and systematic oppression of Black people:
Areas For Sustained Progress
Areas For Sustained Progress
Click on any of the following areas for sustained progress to learn more or view the full platform here.
You may sign on as a sponsor and ENDORSE THE PLATFORM HERE.
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