Defund and redistribute

Not only have I see police encounters for situations where other professionals (healthcare, mental health, social workers) would have been more effective, I have also seen the uncomfortable situation caused by police presence.

It is no secret that the police chief attended the Justice for Abdirahman protest/march, and the police presence made a more tense and uncomfortable environment. Following the public shaming and when the three police officers fled to inside city hall, the dynamic completely shifted. Marchers and protesters instantly became more at ease, less fearful, and appeared more like a safe community group. Police were not needed at the event, and if anything police presence made it more dangerous - because people are scared. The police is not an effective body and will not keep the community safe, especially if those they are meant to protect are afraid of that same force.

Even before the recent rise in calls to defund, I was uncomfortable because of police - it’s not a force I would call upon to help. Mainly because for me, as a woman, I cannot trust that I would be any more safe - and this comes from my experience as a woman, and the experiences of others close to me, who refuse to call the police because it becomes an environment where victims and survivors are blamed.

Defunding is essential because we need to redistribute to support resources that will actually help. We need better response to sexual assault, we need people to call that make the community feel safe, and we need to support initiatives that the community as a whole supports - the police force is not any of those, so defund.