Education advocates marched through Downtown Brooklyn Monday to call for reform in the school system to deal with institutional racism.

The protesters are calling to dismantle the roots of racism from a young age. 

They started on Livingston Street and made their way down Adams Street over the Brooklyn Bridge - chanting “no justice, no peace, schools without police.” 

They are calling for a better way to keep kids safe in schools, saying teachers are the ones who protect and serve kids. 

They’re calling for reforms to the curriculum to address racism and bias. Most of all, they’re calling for additional resources to underserved schools so that all students can have equal education and an equal opportunity for success. 

News 12 spoke to a woman who is a counselor for a charter school in Canarsie - she says injustice in schools is all too common a problem. 

“We all know that racism and hatred is taught, so it’s important as educators to make sure  that we are showing kids that it is not OK that we are sending the right message and that we are teaching everybody and the world that it is our job to unteach that and let future generations carry on the same message that racism is OK,” said Camille Mcgregor. 

Some of the people News 12 spoke to say they took the day off work to be at the protest. They say they felt it was such an important movement and message that they needed to be part of it.

Over 1,000 cyclists also pedaled through the streets of Brooklyn with signs and chants in a cycling caravan.