To the editor:

Everyone loves to talk about how “progressive” Lawrence is, but until we’re willing to publicly pressure our lawmakers to end disparate policing and school discipline that unjustly targets people of color, Lawrence isn’t very “progressive” at all. While there are a variety of ways we can interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, simply not arming officers with military weapons and gear would be a good start.

As a concerned educator, I believe Steve Wakins, Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts should immediately sign on to the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. This bill would end the 1033 program, where the Department of Defense supplies military equipment to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement. The 1033 program has supplied weapons to ICE and police at the U.S.-Mexico border, and, you guessed it, to police in some schools. No town, including Lawrence, Kansas, needs police with military gear in schools.

Hannah Allison,

Lawrence