YPP endorsed four youth and young adult applicants to Montgomery County’s newly created Policing Advisory Commission (PAC): Joshua Briggs, James Frederick, Shabab Ahmed Mirza, and Mark Vicente. 

Of over 220 who people applied, Ms. Mirza was appointed as a member of the commission!  Ms. Mirza is a seasoned activist against LGBTQ violence and Islamaphobia. She has a strong background in both organizing and policy research, and is committed to pushing for systemic change and solutions that create a safer community for all. We are so excited to see the impact Ms. Mirza will make on this issue. 

Congratulations again, and thank you to all those who applied to serve!

As we celebrate, here is a look back on the journey to this point: 

In the Summer of 2019, after a string of policing incidents in the county, Councilmember Hans Riemer, At-Large introduced Bill 14-19 to establish a Policing Advisory Commission (PAC) that would have civilians on the commission advise on how to improve policing in the county. This is an important first step in improving policing because it allows us to have the research, data, resources, and legitimacy necessary to more effectively advocate for improvements in local policing. It also gives us clarity on what policy changes we should be fighting for. However, the commission will be effective ONLY as much as people most impacted by policing issues are represented.

Young adults (under 35) comprise the majority of people arrested and stopped by the Montgomery County Police in any given month. Because we are the people with most interaction with police (often negative) and are most impacted by the policing issue, we should be represented in any commission created to address the it. No decisions should be made about us without us. That is why we advocated to add AT LEAST two youth and young adult seats to the Commission; one for a person under 26 years of age, and the other for a person under 35 years of age. 

In December 2019, we won. The County Council voted unanimously to pass Bill 14-19 to create a Policing Advisory Commission (PAC) with the Young People's Amendment. 

Once applications opened for the commission, YPP members visited student and community groups and did extensive outreach young people about the commission and the opportunity to apply. We held a virtual townhall to showcase young applicants, and wrote letters of support for selected young applicants. Of those applicants, Shabab Ahmed Mirza was appointed and now sits on the commission.