DEFUND THE POLICE

Hello,

I'm calling the City to DEFUND THE POLICE

It is abnormal that the police's budget is 5 times higher than the public health department. Why does Ottawa care more about its local glorified military service than the well-being of its citizens?

It is no secret that the police targets and preys on BIPOC in the city. My own family was at the mercy of abusive police force. Indeed, about 2 years ago, the police surrounded my home with about 15 officers in the early hours of the morning, while my mother, my brother and my elderly grandmother were sleeping. Allegedly, they received a call that we had a firearm in our house. They searched through and through and finally left after they realized that we had no such thing. My family was distraught and could not sleep.

Systemic, institutional and structural racism are rampant in the police and in the city. It's time that the City Council takes action.