Family members of students who lost their lives in school shootings have voiced strong criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris following the resurfacing of comments she made in 2019. In these comments, Harris expressed support for removing police officers from schools. JT Lewis, a school safety advocate whose younger brother Jesse was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, expressed his dismay on social media, stating that if there had been a police officer present, his brother might have been protected. Lewis and others argue that students require more security, not less, to prevent future tragedies.

The backlash stems from a 2019 appearance by Harris, then a California senator, at the Presidential Justice Forum in South Carolina. During the event, Harris discussed the need to "demilitarize" schools by removing police officers, citing concerns about the disproportionate impact of school discipline on Black and Brown students. Her remarks have resurfaced as a point of contention, particularly among those who believe increased police presence in schools is crucial for ensuring student safety.