# Wab Kinew wants more cops in schools—despite his own work exposing their harm Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa2nUT3czxw Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/oa2nUT3czxw Generated: 2025-11-24T20:34:00.725+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, despite past advocacy against police presence in schools, is now pushing for more police officers in the province's schools, contradicting his previous stance and the documented harm caused by such programs, while community activists and news reports highlight ongoing issues like racialized discipline and fatal police shootings involving Indigenous youth. **Key Points:** - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is pushing for more police in the province's schools, despite his history as a journalist and artist who criticized police violence. - Kinew is rejecting accusations from the governing party that he wants to defund police, stating he would "never defund the police" (1:18). - The video references Kinew's 2010 hip-hop track "Good Boy" which honored Matthew Dumas, an 18-year-old Indigenous youth fatally shot by a Winnipeg police officer in 2005. - Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows minority students are far more likely to face disciplinary action, with Black students suspended at nearly twice the rate of white students. - News clips indicate that in 2021, the Louis Riel School Division ended its School Resource Officer (SRO) program because students felt 'targeted and unsafe' (2:42). - The Winnipeg School Division also cut police from schools 'solely for financial reasons' in March 2021 (1:54). - Activists like Cam Scott argue that police presence leads to students being singled out, pushed toward the criminal justice system, and that resources should instead fund school support staff (2:48, 4:41). ![Screenshot at 0:00: Desmond Cole, identified as a journalist and author, introduces the topic by noting Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is pushing for more police in schools.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/oa2nUT3czxw/00-00-00.png) **Context:** The video centers on the political stance of Wab Kinew, the Premier of Manitoba and former Indigenous journalist/artist, regarding the presence of police officers in schools (School Resource Officers or SROs). It juxtaposes his current political position, which includes supporting increased policing, against his past work, which included creating music about police brutality and investigating incidents like the fatal shooting of Indigenous youth Matthew Dumas by a Winnipeg police officer in 2005. The context involves ongoing debates in Manitoba and elsewhere about the efficacy and racial impact of placing law enforcement within educational settings. ## Detailed Analysis The video critiques Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew for advocating for increased police presence in schools, despite his own history of critically examining police actions. Desmond Cole, a journalist, opens by stating Kinew is pushing for more police in schools, contrasting this with Kinew's past work, including an investigation into the fatal 2005 shooting of Indigenous teen Matthew Dumas by a Winnipeg police officer, which inspired Kinew's song "Good Boy" (3:18). The video highlights political friction, noting Kinew rejected allegations that he planned to defund the police during the election, stating he would "never defund the police" (1:18). Evidence is presented showing the negative impacts of police in schools: a 2014 Al Jazeera documentary showed the 'school to prison pipeline' (2:16), and a 2014 U.S. Department of Education report indicated minority students face disproportionate discipline, including suspension and arrest (2:18). Locally, the Louis Riel School Division ended its SRO program in 2021 because students felt 'targeted and unsafe' (2:42), while the Winnipeg School Division also cut police funding for financial reasons (1:54). Activist Cam Scott discusses how SROs single out students, pushing them toward the criminal justice system, advocating instead for funding school support staff (2:48). The video concludes by noting that while Kinew has identified these problems in his past work, he appears unwilling to follow that logic, instead favoring more police presence, evidenced by him wearing an 'I love RCMP' pin while campaigning (4:03). ### Political Stance on Policing - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew pushes for more police in schools - Kinew rejects claims he wants to defund police, stating, "I will never defund the police" (1:18) - Kinew's government budget includes a $288 million total police service funding, with a $13.7 million increase to urban policing grants (1:23). ### Kinew's Past Activism - Kinew, as a journalist/artist, investigated the 2005 fatal shooting of Indigenous youth Matthew Dumas by a Winnipeg police officer (3:22) - He recorded the song "Good Boy" in honor of Dumas (3:17). ### Evidence Against School Policing - U.S. Civil Rights Data Collection shows minority students are far more likely to face suspension and arrest than white students (2:18) - A Winnipeg report stated police in schools made students feel 'targeted and unsafe' (2:42) - Winnipeg School Division cut police from schools in 2021 citing budget pressures (1:54). ### Alternative Solutions - Activist Cam Scott argues for investing in school support staff, meals, and after-school programs instead of policing (4:41) - Scott detailed how SROs single out students and push them into the criminal justice system (2:48). ### Contradiction and Conclusion - Kinew ignores data and testimony from his own country, including protests demanding 'Justice for James Wood' (4:35) - Kinew appears unwilling to follow the logical conclusion from his past work, instead favoring increased policing, as seen by his 'I love RCMP' pin (4:03). ![Screenshot at 0:00: Desmond Cole, identified as a journalist and author, introduces the topic by noting Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is pushing for more police in schools.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/oa2nUT3czxw/00-00-00.png) ![Screenshot at 0:04: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks while a graphic states he is pushing for more police in schools.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/oa2nUT3czxw/00-00-04.png) ![Screenshot at 0:22: Jennifer Torres, identified as a student, discusses the impact of policing on young people.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/oa2nUT3czxw/00-00-22.png) ![Screenshot at 0:38: Wab Kinew, as a rapper, performs lyrics critical of police brutality, stating: "BUT YOU CAN'T KILL US" and "THE CITY IS A JUNGLE".](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/oa2nUT3czxw/00-00-38.png) ![Screenshot at 1:10: A CBC News headline shows Wab Kinew rejecting Tory claims that he wants to defund police in Manitoba.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/oa2nUT3czxw/00-01-10.png)