MAYORS AND CITIES – Georgetown University students encouraged Georgetown officials to create a “sanctuary space” for protesters and ban police officers in its campus.

In a petition published last week at change.org, the students said Georgetown University’s Law Center community, Associate Vice President for Administration David Mao announced that the institution will continue its “regular contract with all of the police departments with jurisdiction in our area.”

The students have urged the Georgetown University and the Georgetown University Law Center “to end all contracts and relationships with police departments” considering the “inhumane and violent response by the DC area police department.”

To recall, more than 190 individuals sheltering in strangers’ homes were nabbed by the police near Swann and 15th streets Northwest in D.C. in June.

“As a Georgetown University community that stands for our Black community, and joins the fight against racism and hatred, it is imperative that the university, including the Georgetown University Law Center, cease all relationships with any police department,” the students stressed.

“In light of the police brutality that continues to plague our nation (a reality that has led to the death of George Floyd and all those before him, and those that are being lost in their fight against this violence in recent protests) we cannot stand alongside the perpetrators,” it continued.

The petition said it’s the University’s turn to take the words of hatred against racism into action.

Last May 27, the University of Minnesota has also stood with the Black community as it cut ties with police departments.

As of 8:45 P.M. on Sunday, the petition has already gathered 8, 694 signatures.

Around 9, 000 supporters have expressed their reasons in backing the ban of the police in the campus.

For Amita Swadhin, the system of racism has not changed over the years.

“I’m an alumna (SFS ‘00). It was never appropriate to engage armed police officers or armed security guards on campus. Armed officers and guards on Georgetown’s campus plainly harass and target Black students – that was true when I was a campus freshman 25 years ago, and it is still true today. Black Lives Matter,” she wrote.

Supporter Joan Huai, on the other hand, said change has to start now.

She wrote “We are done with constant policing that targets Black and People of Color. Change starts now! It is time to dismantle this system of racism and militarism. We don’t need any more violence (of all forms) and we must strive not only for peace but specifically positive peace that serves justice especially to the most marginalized groups.”

“Georgetown University can do better. The presence of police on campus is antithetical to the Jesuit value of cura personalis. Every student deserves to feel safe on campus so that they can flourish. Only then can they be women, men, and folx for and with others,” she continued.