Naomi Wadler Delivers Remarks

I stand here today for every black girl. For the girls in this city who are 30 times more likely to get arrested than all other white children combined. I stand here for every black girl who is hyper sexualized by wearing the same school uniform as her white peer and sent home. I stand here today for every black child in this country arrested in a school for violating the racist, antiquated “disturbing a school” law.

I stand here – because I am lucky enough to have a platform and because it is my duty and responsibility to raise awareness of how girls like me are treated in schools in this city and around the country.

The people in this room know the statistics better than I do for sure. The work and research of the Georgetown Poverty Center should be required reading for every local and federal elected official and for every school superintendent, principal, teacher and resource officer.