Tonight at 7 p.m. we’re hosting an Emergency Youth Curfew Safety Training to share how to keep our youth safe, how to support them during curfew hours, and what to do if you witness police interacting with young people. Register: bit.ly/YOUTHCURFEW

Stand with DC youth. Share this. Contact your councilmember. Full statement and list of partners: bit.ly/KidsB4Cops #FreeDC #WeKeepUsSafe #EndTheCurfew

DC has everything it needs to keep young people safe. We have the resources, the community partners, and the solutions. What is missing is the political courage to choose care instead of control. Our children deserve safety, joy, and a sense of belonging, not curfews and armed soldiers.

We’re demanding real safety rooted in community care: • Remove National Guard & federal agents from youth spaces • Fund late-night rec centers, arts, sports & cultural programs • Community-based crisis response (not police) • Accessible mental health care for youth

“Young people are not failing — the systems meant to support young people are failing.” — Nicole Newman, Critical Exposure

📚 Research from the Campbell Collaboration shows no meaningful decrease in youth crime. Instead, curfews increase police contact, trauma, and surveillance of Black youth. Curfews don’t keep kids safe.

15+ DC organizations including Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, @freedcproject.bsky.social, Black Swan Academy, DC Action & more are calling for: ❌ An end to the extended youth curfew ❌ Removal of the National Guard from youth spaces

Instead of creating safe, well-resourced spaces for youth, DC leaders responded with curfews, soldiers, and fear. Our responsibility is to protect them, not criminalize them.

On Halloween night, when young people should’ve been celebrating, Black teens in DC were chased by the National Guard. Ella Baker taught us: “The children are always ours, every single one of them.” 🧵