Activists: Curfew Criminalizes Black Youth, Should Be Changed In San Antonio
Conversations about the mass criminalization of young people have been sparked by the controversial ordinance.
Ayouth curfew ordinance has led to a stigma and the criminalization of young people of color in San Antonio, Texas, an activist group said recently.
The city’s policy has sparked controversy, with opponents fighting for better ways to curb issues with kids getting in trouble for curfew violations, local outlet KSAT reported. The ordinance’s negative effects on Black and Latino youth should mean that the rule is reconsidered, activists with My Brother’s Keeper San Antonio said.
“When we you see a young black man or a young Latina, you instantly believe that if he’s walking around at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, he’s up to no good,” Akeem Brown, chairman of MBK, said at a panel Wednesday on how police can appropriately address curfew issues. “How do we have officers engage that young man or woman and make sure they are navigated the appropriate way?”
The curfew affects teens under the age of 16 outside at night between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., San Antonio’s Spectrum News reported.
When police catch kids under the age of 16 outside between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. the #YouthCurfewOrdinance allows the officer to cite them up to $500. https://t.co/nesvhmEjoL
— Spectrum News SA (@SpecNewsSA) April 5, 2018
Traditionally, officers have issued citations to teens who violate the curfew. The citations can be costly, with anywhere from $50 to $500 dollars having to be paid out.
With 228 curfew violations having taken place since 2015, the amount of dollars in citations that have been spent is overwhelming. For activists, the number of costly citations, along with harmful impacts on teens of color, are clear indicators that something has to change now.
However, policy opponents may have to wait a few days. The city of San Antonio is set to review its youth curfew ordinance later this month. It is typically reviewed every three years, KSAT reported.
There are exceptions to the policy, including teens who have jobs that permit them to stay out late. Also, young people have have emergencies are exempt.
The city’s Public Safety Committee is scheduled to review the ordinance at a meeting on April 24, Spectrum News reported.
SEE ALSO:
What’s The Future Of Black People In The Democratic Party If The Disrespect Continues?

95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
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9. March For Our Lives In Washington, DC
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This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
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This is the truth. Our country values gun rights more than the lives of Black and Brown kids. #MarchForOurLives #enough #neveragain #endgunviolence pic.twitter.com/JOtWLoMkL6
— YWCA USA (@YWCAUSA) March 24, 2018
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Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
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Advancement Project team hitting the streets for at the March for Our (Black and Brown) lives. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/AMaXBD54Vp
— Advancement Project (@adv_project) March 24, 2018
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I hope one day I will get as many rights as a gun. - A Black American #marchforourlives pic.twitter.com/5yFiZ18Jid
— Bradley E. Williams (@B_RadWill) March 24, 2018
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I hope one day I will get as many rights as a gun. - A Black American #marchforourlives pic.twitter.com/5yFiZ18Jid
— Bradley E. Williams (@B_RadWill) March 24, 2018
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#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
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#marchforOURlives Crew @KellyMcCreary @Alyssa_Milano @billprady @jehorowitz @RenaSofer @DannyZuker MY objective today was to look out for too often excluded Brown/Black/Indigenous lives 🖤✊🏽 #blacklivesmatter #GunViolence #PoliceViolence #StephonClark #RekiaBoyd pic.twitter.com/n8Mj9M7Jqs
— Kendrick Sampson (@kendrick38) March 24, 2018
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I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
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I love John Lewis. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/Egs6Ggv2Lg
— Denizcan James (@MrFilmkritik) March 24, 2018
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So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— megan 9 (@sggmendes) March 24, 2018
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So so so inspiring ❤️ #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/upgw58E9xk
— megan 9 (@sggmendes) March 24, 2018
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Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
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Thank you @repjohnlewis. #GoodTrouble #MarchforOurLives pic.twitter.com/uLKsCliXot
— Bros4America (@Bros4America) March 24, 2018
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Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
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Where's the lie? #MarchForOurLives. Image Cr. @sirmeadows @ColorOfChange https://t.co/HDDO3Dmgco pic.twitter.com/vSpR4CbITs
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) March 24, 2018
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#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— Megan B. (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
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#MarchForOurLives signs DC pic.twitter.com/KOc7pAl0BE
— Megan B. (@MegzFLo) March 24, 2018
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#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
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#marchforourlives Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/lpzCmGOUuQ
— † Maria♀ (@Mella0_0) March 24, 2018
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I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
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I'm so damn proud of these kids, man.
— MT (@MasterTainment) March 24, 2018
Look what they did.
Look. What. They. Did.
Blind, selfish adults told them to sit down & shut up.
They tried to discourage them with lies & threats.
But these kids rose above it and inspired a nation.
And the world.#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/WwcZOVDzEq
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These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy 🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
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These Kids will....
— Mayday Mindy 🌊 (@maydaymindy9) March 24, 2018
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN#MarchForOurLives @realDonaldTrump #TheResistence #NeverAgainMSD pic.twitter.com/aC7BCUPwnE
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One of the best one’s I’ve seen so far..#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/h7rFuLX1GH
— Zero F*cks to Give, Monica (@BenzelLouden) March 24, 2018
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One of the best one’s I’ve seen so far..#MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/h7rFuLX1GH
— Zero F*cks to Give, Monica (@BenzelLouden) March 24, 2018
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#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— K A M :) (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
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#Marchforourlives was so much fun, it felt so good to make a difference 🐝 pic.twitter.com/8mBEJISCej
— K A M :) (@kameastcoast) March 24, 2018
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The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
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The conversation about guns and safety is always incomplete when you leave out the voices of those most marginalized.
— Pete Haviland-Eduah (@TheNotoriousPHE) March 24, 2018
Inclusiveness is going to be key to see our movements to the finish line.
Had to remind folks of that with my presence today. #MarchForOurLives pic.twitter.com/O2dqDNk9lM
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I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
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I didn’t catch her name but she is telling her gun violence/ptsd story and she has made it real #marchforourlivessf pic.twitter.com/79PPCOuGYU
— marymcnamara (@marymcnamara) March 24, 2018
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95 Photos Of Black People Marching For Our Lives
Black folks were representing in full force at the dozens of March for Our Lives rallies held across the globe on March 24, 2018, attracting hundreds of thousands of students, activists, celebrities and other world citizens concerned about the disturbing levels of gun violence that plagues the U.S like no other nation. As the disproportionate victims of gun violence in America, Black people made sure their voices were heard. Have a look at the youthful faces of the country's current and future freedom fighters as well as their colorful, clever signs.