ACLU Teaching High School Students How To React To Being Stopped By Police, Politely

East Side Community High School is teaching its students how to interact with the NYPD during stop-and-frisks. 
Photo: Helayne Seidman

[From article]
The principal of East Side Community HS invited the New York Civil Liberties Union to give a two-day training session last week on interacting with police.
The 450 kids were coached on staying calm during NYPD encounters and given a “What To Do If You’re Stopped By The Police” pamphlet.
NYCLU representatives told kids to be polite and to keep their hands out of their pockets. But they also told students they don’t have to show ID or consent to searches, that it’s best to remain silent, and how to file a complaint against an officer.
[. . .]
But some law-enforcement experts say the NYCLU is going beyond civics lessons and doling out criminal-defense advice.
[. . .]
Ed Mullins, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association said, “Education is the key, but are Civil Liberties going in with an agenda or to educate? I think we deserve equal time and should have the opportunity to follow up with the same platform to explain exactly what police do and what we think is the best way to deal with the police.”

http://nypost.com/2014/11/23/new-hs-class-teaches-kids-how-to-deal-with-cops/

New high school course: ‘How to deal with cops’
By Kate Briquelet
November 23, 2014 | 2:14am