FACT BRIEF

Are University of California students joining students at other universities and demanding the abolition of campus police?

Saturday, May 8, 2021

By Stevie Rosignol-Cortez

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YES

The Cops Off Campus Coalition, which advocates for abolishing campus police nationwide, organized events on all nine University of California campuses, among other schools, throughout what the organization calls "Abolition May." The coalition also advocates for returning "indigenous lands to indigenous hands," and free tuition and economic security for all students.

Cops Off Campus Coalition organized a "nationwide day of refusal" on May 3, 2021, where participants halted all school and work in support of campus police abolition.

Northwestern University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, University of Iowa and New York University have all circulated open letters and petitions calling for their administration to cut ties with police, according to Inside Higher Ed.

At least one community college in California has already removed police from its campus, according to CalMatters.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Cops Off Campus Coalition Organizing Calendar

Cops off Campus Coalition Abolition May

Inside Higher Ed Universities call for removing police

CalMatters Students, college leaders debate the future of campus policing

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