![Protestors gather at the home of Columbus school board president Jennifer Adair demaning the district stop using resource officers from Columbus Police. [Roger Ingles / Statehouse News Bureau]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b3343e5/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x675+0+0/resize/840x568!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F06%2F872809441_574628950.jpg)
Demonstrators against police abuse gathered in front of the home of Columbus school board president Jennifer Adair on Monday night.
The protesters want Columbus City Schools to stop using Columbus Police school resource officers in the district's buildings. They say the officers create fear and the money could be used more effectively on social workers and councilors.
Kanyinsola Oye is one of the protesters who stood in front of the Adair's home, demanding the district get rid of the city’s police officers in schools.
“CPD does not increase the amount of safety but instead it causes an increased amount of fear in the lives of students, especially black and brown students," Oye says.
Adair and Columbus City Schools superintendent Talisa Dixon issued a joint statement on Monday saying they will “have an open and honest dialogue with the Columbus Police leadership regarding officers.”
CCS Board of Education President Jennifer Adair and Superintendent Dr. Talisa Dixon released a statement today regarding the District's relationship with the Columbus Police Department.
— Columbus City Schools (@ColsCitySchools) June 8, 2020
READ: https://t.co/tXjEEggKte pic.twitter.com/HSk5xsKgdb
In a written statement, the Columbus Police Department says, "We do not want to impose on the school system if we are not welcome. The priority for Columbus Police is always safety first. That includes the safety of students and staff."
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