Two years ago , on June 24th 2020 a small but mighty Black-led organization made history in the United States. The passing of the George Floyd Resolution(GFR) was a historic win in Oakland and the entire country as it was the first time an internal school police department had been abolished. This was a result of long-term organizing and an almost 10 year campaign , known as the  Bettering Our School System (BOSS) Campaign led by the Black Organizing Project. The BOSS Campaign began in 2011 through the discussion and decision of community members who identified that at the intersections of policing , education , and lack of jobs in the Black community — was an opportunity to confront and shift the narrative of policing, and create new realities for Black students and families.

It was not an easy road. For many years there was consistent opposition to this goal, deeming it radical and unrealistic— and perhaps, too outside the margins. Through this though, we  remained inspired by the possibility of bringing people into the vision; meeting people where they were at ,but also pushing them past their own limitations. 

The passing of the George Floyd Resolution(GFR) to eliminate OUSD’s school police department was not only a win for the members of BOP– but for all the students of Oakland and Black students in particular who would no longer have to live under the recurring trauma of having police in their schools. 

Do you remember where you  were when we won june 24th 2020? How does this video make you feel?