We are outraged over the treatment of youth last weekend by the Mayor of St. Louis and SLMPD. After incidents were reported in North City, South City, and Downtown on 314 Day Weekend, the Mayor put a 10pm curfew in place for Downtown the following weekend. Many of us did not even know about this curfew as we don’t follow SLMPD on social media. As a result, 23 youth from ages 11 to 17 were threatened, harassed, zip-tied, thrown into SLMPD vehicles, and taken to a non-disclosed location. Now, their families have to appear in court and face fines of up to $500 or 90 days in jail. SLMPD reports that no weapons were recovered from any of the 23 youth detained.

We have strong disagreement with the Mayor’s decisions and the misleading and harmful statements that followed. The Mayor claims the curfew was put in place Downtown because that’s “where the majority of violence occurred the weekend prior.” However, only 3 incidents were reported Downtown on 314 Day
Weekend, with the others occurring in North City and South City. In her statement calling this mistreatment and detention of 11-17 year olds “a success,” she referred to the 23 youth as “juveniles” four times, which is a targeted legal term that dehumanizes young people. It’s clear to us that the Mayor does not view the youth of St. Louis in a positive light, but is rather prioritizing her desired image of Downtown, no matter who is harmed.

It’s clear to us that there was a failure to understand the facts of the incidents that took place on 314 Day Weekend, from who was responsible to where they actually happened. The Mayor activated SLMPD to target and detain any youth who were Downtown after the poorly communicated curfew, and then penalize their families. This in no way addressed the incidents that took place the previous weekend or creates safety for youth.

We do not condone the reported incidents that took place on 314 Day Weekend. We want a safe city, too. But detaining 23 11-17 year olds causes trauma and does not create safety. Fining or locking up their parents does not create safety. Those reactionary practices are punitive, harmful, and dehumanizing to our youth who were not even responsible for the incidents that took place on 314 Day Weekend.

Safe spaces for youth exist, and have existed for decades. What does not exist is support and investment from city government. Instead of investing in safe spaces for youth, city government has decided to misappropriate funds into harassing and detaining youth. The Mayor’s decisions harmed 23 youth and their families.

The City’s choices and actions this month are strong indicators of the need for change on the City’s part, from communications to funding. We are asking the following of the Mayor:

1. 1) Immediately remove the court dates, charges, and fines for the families of the 23 11-17 year olds who were detained on March 20, 2026. The detaining of these young people was already too punitive a measure.
2. Release a statement apologizing for the mistreatment and mischaracterization of the 23 11-17 year olds detained, including referring to them as “juveniles.”
3. Make funding for youth organizations abundant and accessible. Prioritize the budget to center youth and families. Remove the many obstacles in the way of youth organizations receiving funding. Reach out to youth organizations directly for input on funding and other resources.

Our purpose is to bring healing to the youth of St. Louis. Part of that work is in disrupting any actions, intentional or otherwise, that drive youth into the carceral system or poverty, and presenting positive,promising alternatives. Freedom Arts & Education Center and our partners are doing that, and we invite our city government to join us.

Freedom Arts & Education Center
Faith For Justice
St. John’s Church – The Beloved Community
Action St. Louis
ArchCity Defenders
Tenants Transforming Greater St. Louis
Debt Free Justice
National Center for Youth Law
Missouri Justice Coalition
Good Journey
Black Men Build
Organization for Black Struggle
Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression
Youth Council for Positive Development
Project Haki
Metropolitan Congregations United for St. Louis