Youth Force Aims to Build a Youth Movement

This past election saw the rise of Youth Force, a coalition of near forty youth organizations in the Bay Area who took to the streets and schools, and held cultural performances and shows to protest Proposition 21 and the criminalization of youth and youth culture.  Though Prop 21 passed in March disheartening many supporters of youth and young people of color who see their future locked behind bars with little education and career opportunities, their determination to build a movement of well-informed, politicized and trained young people to address social issues has been the impetus for their current organizing efforts. They have been holding educational forums and speaking out against a system which prioritizes punishment over prevention and education and are continuing to work towards improving the educational system and other issues affecting youth, people of color and the poor.

On June 29th, youth members and supporters held a rally in front of the San Francisco City Hall which preceded a Board of Supervisors Public Health and Environment Committee Hearing to address the impact of Proposition 21 on youth.  As emotions and excitement grew, over 200 youth filled the Board of Supervisors chambers to attend the hearing.  The majority of the youth members were high school and junior high students of diverse gender, sexuality, and ethnic background.  Two Commissioners of the SF Youth Commission who are also members of Youth Force, presided over the hearing with the District Attorney, SF Board of Supervisors and other city officials.

A representative of the San Francisco Probation Department spoke of the effects Prop 21 would have on their work, and a representative from the Public Defenders Office proposed filing misdemeanor charges for non-violent offense involving youth who might otherwise be charged with a felony under Prop 21. 

Many of the youth in attendance provided testimony about their experiences and the impact the initiative would have on their lives and the future of others like them.  Taking advantage of the Board of Supervisors position against Prop 21 and pushing the issue further, youth attendees demanded that the Board take real steps in the fight against the Prop 21 by passing a resolution to make San Francisco a Prop 21 free zone.  A Board member and the City Attorney agreed to help frame and introduce two pieces of moratorium legislation (an ordinance to address the local aspects of Prop 21 and a resolution to address aspects of Prop 21 outside of local jurisdiction) being drafted by the youth groups.  Other Board members expressed strong support for the legislation.

Members of Youth Force are currently working to organize a speakers bureau of youth trained to speak on Prop 21 and juvenile justice issues, and to create a Prop 21 Hot Line to provide information on Prop 21, take reports of law enforcement abuse, and provide juvenile justice resources.  They are also working to develop youth led trainings for police officers on dealing with youth and are training young people on their rights. Lastly, Youth Force plans to develop a directory of resources and legal services available for at-risk youth under Prop 21.  Youth Force sees the work on Prop 21 as the beginning of a movement which will spread throughout the state and serve as a model for both youth and adults. 

For more info on Youth Force call 510-444-0484 or Youthforce@mindspring.com.  For info on the Prop 21 Free Zone campaign contact the SF Youth Commission, call 415- 554-6446, fax 415-554-6140, www.ci.sf.ca.us/youth_commission or email: youthcom@ci.sf.ca.us.

Correction to article: The rally and events held  on June 29th at  the Board of Supervisors Public Health and Environment Committee Hearing to address the impact of Proposition 21 was organized by Third Eye Movement and not Youth Force.