Theodore Mitchell

Los Angeles, CA 90044

October 15th, 2015

Maxine Waters
10124 S. Broadway Suite 1
Los Angeles, CA 90003

Honorable Madame Maxine Waters,

I am writing this letter in regards to H. Res. 476 Supporting the establishment of a National
Childrens Bill of Rights. It is my sincere desire that this bill moves beyond a simple resolution
and become enforceable legislation. I am in support of the establishment of a National Childrens
Bill of Rights. It is my opinion that the proper reading and enforcement of this bill will work
toward eliminating some of the causes and definitely supportive structures that support and allow
health and educational inequities to be so rampant in the American society, especially in our
southland communities.
In regards to the childrens physical well-being it should be mandated that all government
institutions that serve children strive to ensure that childrens safety is the primary concern. In
terms of parks and recreations, and education, all city state and federal parks and schools should
strive to maintain cleaner, safer facilities and practices. In terms of law enforcement it should be
required that they use rubber bullets. The number of children shot and killed by police officers in
recent years is appalling and the response from our government has been an atrocious disregard
of life of humans especially Black African lives. This needs to extend to children in the juvenile
justice system. These same children are the ones who are often abused and neglected as a form of
punishment. In fact the type of punishment for the crimes committed needs to be disbanded all
together. The racist practices, pedagogies and policies all support a high socio economic status
white supremacist hegemonic ideology that infects our society and leads to institutionalized
racism and internalized oppression. This appears as racial profiling, predatory police practices
and the passing of laws and policies that disproportionately affect persons of color and the
children especially. The sidewalks and streets should also be made conducive to walking biking
skating etc. This also means a restructuring of the educational system.
A complete change in pedagogical techniques and need to redress and address the ideological
hegemony that is being purported in these schools pre K-12 needs to occur. Our children are
being assaulted and many of the ideas are so blatantly false they offend our childrens
sensibilities. So disrespectful to our ancestors and our cultures that damage the psyche of the
child and potentially have a negative impact on their overall desire to perform in school.
In regards to the essential rights and needs of children especially nutrition a vast restructuring
and redistribution of resources needs to occur. For decades the government has allowed

corporate entities to dictate what information is allowed to be incorporated from the Institute of
Medicines Food and Nutrition Board. The prioritization of saving money over properly
nourishing has definitely contributed to the epidemic of overweight people and obesity related
disorders in this country. This in addition to lack of adequate resources for the implementation of
preventive and protective mental health practices.
In pursuit of having this bill implemented and enforced I sincerely urge you utilize all skills and
resources at your disposal to influence the policies that will work to enforce this Bill and apply it
to the states. In addition I would urge you and your fellow representatives to use this bill as a
measure to assess all other bills introduced into the house that affect the lives of children in any
way. That includes the way the adults in their worlds are treated wherever they live work or play.
Sincerely

Theodore Mitchell