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Malcolm Jenkins' Criminal Justice Season

This week, the All-Pro safety is inspired by West Philly’s Jubilee School and its focus on social activism

In May, I visited the Jubilee School, located on Chester Avenue in West Philly, to learn about the students’ role in social activism. They were interested in my ride-alongs with the Philadelphia police, the meetings I’ve had with legislators on Capitol Hill, and the work I’ve been a part of that is going into improving our criminal justice system.

Jubilee relies on donor support, and the majority of children attend on scholarship. Offering classes from kindergarten to sixth grade, the school looks more like a house, and the warmth that enveloped me from the moment I engaged with the children will remain with me for life.

As I went from classroom to classroom,  the students shared their artwork and poetry, and asked very intelligent questions about our criminal justice system and how they could influence it themselves. (Everyone needs to vote! Meet your local representatives!). It was truly inspiring to see them embrace human rights and equality, as well as seek to take action.  Their poetry campaign against police brutality was smart and thoughtful, and yet the students also recognized that the police are our protectors. Please take a moment to read the Declaration of Principles written by the school’s fifth and sixth graders.

Together, we talked about how justice can include improving our policing and training, while also building trust between police and community.

Led by principal and founder Karen Falcon for 40 years, Jubilee students have been active in human rights issues. In 2016, the students commemorated the 1985 MOVE bombing on Osage Avenue by bringing flowers and reading poetry they had written.  After they discovered that there wasn’t a historical marker, the students formally applied and continued to work and fundraise to make it happen. In June, they held a ceremony and celebrated its completion. It’s really special that they honored Philadelphia in that way.

The students have also organized marches, such as the one they held on June 6th in the courtyard of City Hall as part of their campaign, “Songs of the Children: A March for Student Visions of Hope for Social Justice, Freedom, Equality and Peace.” Students marched down Chestnut Street to the People’s Plaza in front of Independence Hall where they expressed their vision through music, poetry, dance and signs. I’m very proud of these children—and their teachers—for expressing their support for social justice and equal rights in such peaceful demonstrations.

Jubilee students are designing the cleats that I will be wearing in honor of social justice during our week 13 game against the Seahawks.  If you’re as inspired as I am by these students, make a donation.

According to its mission, Jubilee provides “an environment in which children build upon their wealth of creative, intellectual, social and physical resources…By integrating scholarship, social activism, and the celebration of their heritage, students gain the power of their individual and collective voices to affect change in their local and global communities.” Jubilee is committed to providing a private school education which is affordable to all, regardless of income.  

The school is currently in need of donor support to stay afloat financially. This holiday season, I hope you will consider making a donation that invests in the futures of these children. For a limited time, if you make a donation of $25 or more, you’ll receive 10 note cards featuring art work made by Jubilee students. The students are designing the cleats that I will be wearing in honor of social justice during week 13 against the Seahawks. I hope you’re as inspired as I am by these students and make a donation here.

Meanwhile, this week, we take on Chicago on the field, and in our criminal justice comparison.

Results

Philadelphia

Eagles

vs

Chicago

Bears

Homicides per 1,000 residents

0.18

Tie

Homicides per 1,000 residents

0.18

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

10.3

Bears

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

9.1

Marijuana decriminalization

Yes

Tie

Marijuana decriminalization

Yes

Police involved shootings

23

Eagles

Police involved shootings

25

People in jail per 100,000 residents

448

Bears

People in jail per 100,000 residents

281

% police of color /
% population of color

43.2/55

Eagles

% police of color /
% population of color

47.9/68

% jail population awaiting trial

134

Eagles

% jail population awaiting trial

146

Juvenile court case counts per 10,000 residents

307

Bears

Juvenile court case counts per 10,000 residents

66

Chicago

Bears

Sep. 10
-

Tie

Redskins

Sep. 17
-

Tie

Chiefs

Sep. 24
-

Tie

Giants

Oct. 01
-

Tie

Chargers

Oct. 08
-

Tie

Cardinals

Oct. 12
-

Tie

Panthers

Oct. 23
-

Tie

Redskins

Oct. 29
-

Tie

49ers

Nov. 05
-

Tie

Broncos

Nov. 19
-

Tie

Cowboys

Nov. 26
-

Tie

Bears

Dec. 03
-

Tie

Seahawks

Dec. 10
-

Tie

Rams

Dec. 17
-

Tie

Jets

Dec. 25
-

Tie

Raiders

Dec. 31
-

Tie

Cowboys

Jan. 13
-

Tie

Falcons

Civic Record:

EAGLES

Wins

0

Losses

0

Upcoming Games:

 

Jan. 13 4:35 PM Atlanta

For more information on this data, see the Criminal Justice Season Explained page.

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