Defund University Police Department at UVA!
Jim Ryan and the Board of Visitors
Summary: YDSA at UVA is demanding change from UVA following consistent police harassment, abuse, and surveillance of UVA’s Black and Brown students and community members around Grounds. In the past years there has been an increase in police presence on Grounds, as well as the expansion of the Ambassador’s program, both of which have always contributed to the marginalization of Black and Brown students at the hands of law enforcement. The University Police hoard funds but fail to follow through when students demand safer campus conditions. On multiple occasions the Ambassadors have failed to walk students home when asked, despite this being part of their duties. Furthermore, the University Police has failed to properly secure and light dark areas in heavily student populated locations around Grounds, or prevent harm to students. Instead, they dedicate time and money to attacking and harassing students who are outspoken about their increasingly useless and harmful presence, even going as far as calling and following them. In addition, the extension of UPD, that is the Ambassador program both lacks authority and organization to do the one thing they were brought to Grounds to do. In the height of COVID-19 lockdowns and strict mask policies last year, Ambassadors could be seen taking photos of and with students around Mad Bowl (Frat Row) in masses without masks. But when it comes to small rule abiding groups, or lone Black and Brown students they were repeatedly reported to be targeting them about the loosely upheld mask policies. The University has even hired Tim Longo as Police Chief of UPD and VP of Safety and Security. Chief Longo has a long history of causing active harm in the UVA and Charlottesville Community including the mishandling of the disappearance of Sage Smith and implementing a DNA dragnet of almost 200 Black men in Charlottesville.
Being the largest chapter in the nation, YDSA at UVA is fully capable of organizing around this issue in order to help make the University safer for all students. We demand immediate and permanent change from UVA in the best interest of their students, starting with the firing of police chief Timothy J Longo and defunding UVA Ambassadors and allocating funds towards better lighting around grounds, more safe rides, and better bus routes .
Demands:
Better Funding for Lighting around Grounds (especially 14th St)
More Funding for SafeRide: more drivers, more reliable
Fire Chief of Police Tim Longo, don’t replace him
Defund Ambassadors and Reallocate the Money
Testimonies:
Black and Brown students have been receiving harassment from the UPD and their counterparts like being followed and being hounded with calls about unwanted meetings.
Sponsored by
To:
Jim Ryan and the Board of Visitors
From:
[Your Name]
Summary: YDSA at UVA is demanding change from UVA following consistent police harassment, abuse, and surveillance of UVA’s Black and Brown students and community members around Grounds. In the past years there has been an increase in police presence on Grounds, as well as the expansion of the Ambassador’s program, both of which have always contributed to the marginalization of Black and Brown students at the hands of law enforcement. The University Police hoard funds but fail to follow through when students demand safer campus conditions. On multiple occasions the Ambassadors have failed to walk students home when asked, despite this being part of their duties. Furthermore, the University Police has failed to properly secure and light dark areas in heavily student populated locations around Grounds, or prevent harm to students. Instead, they dedicate time and money to attacking and harassing students who are outspoken about their increasingly useless and harmful presence, even going as far as calling and following them. In addition, the extension of UPD, that is the Ambassador program both lacks authority and organization to do the one thing they were brought to Grounds to do. In the height of COVID-19 lockdowns and strict mask policies last year, Ambassadors could be seen taking photos of and with students around Mad Bowl (Frat Row) in masses without masks. But when it comes to small rule abiding groups, or lone Black and Brown students they were repeatedly reported to be targeting them about the loosely upheld mask policies. The University has even hired Tim Longo as Police Chief of UPD and VP of Safety and Security. Chief Longo has a long history of causing active harm in the UVA and Charlottesville Community including the mishandling of the disappearance of Sage Smith and implementing a DNA dragnet of almost 200 Black men in Charlottesville.
Being the largest chapter in the nation, YDSA at UVA is fully capable of organizing around this issue in order to help make the University safer for all students. We demand immediate and permanent change from UVA in the best interest of their students, starting with the firing of police chief Timothy J Longo and defunding UVA Ambassadors and allocating funds towards better lighting around grounds, more safe rides, and better bus routes .
Demands:
Better Funding for Lighting around Grounds (especially 14th St)
More Funding for SafeRide: more drivers, more reliable
Fire Chief of Police Tim Longo, don’t replace him
Defund Ambassadors and Reallocate the Money
Testimonies:
Black and Brown students have been receiving harassment from the UPD and their counterparts like being followed and being hounded with calls about unwanted meetings.