Written by Katelyn Pioy
Recently, The Fayetteville City Council in North Carolina struck down a proposal for a restrictive youth curfew. The curfew, proposed by Police Chief Kemberle Braden, aimed to impose limitations on youth. According to the proposal, individuals under 16 years old would be prohibited from going out between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Those aged 16 and 17 would have a
curfew from midnight to 5 a.m. on weekdays and from 1 to 5 a.m. on weekends. If violated, parents could face misdemeanor charges, while teenagers might be required to attend delinquency hearings in court. The Fayetteville City Council’s rejection of this youth curfew marked a significant victory for NYRA. We are an organization committed to protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals including their right to move freely and assemble. Imposing curfews on youth directly violates these liberties, thereby limiting their autonomy.
This is called progress. It proves that there are some who care. But there’s still a long way to go. As youth, we must fight tooth and nail for basic, simple human rights. When considering proposing a law, lawmakers should ask themselves, “Would this be okay if I implemented this on a racial minority?” If the answer is no, then don’t implement it on youth. Simple as that.