Invest in Our Communities
Dear John,
Our community is in pain over the murder of George Floyd, and joined by people across the world demanding justice. At the same time, we’re witnessing powerful acts of solidarity – and the beginnings of something new.
People in our community are leading food distribution and clean-up efforts. Neighbors are keeping neighbors safe and sheltering those without homes. Students at the University of Minnesota and in Minneapolis Public Schools are winning real changes, pushing schools to cut ties with Minneapolis police.
Across the Twin Cities, the people are clear: we need justice for George Floyd. And, it’s time to defund the police.
Arresting and charging George Floyd’s murderers is a step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. Not for George, for his family, or for our Black communities that have suffered at the hands of a police system built on white supremacy for centuries.
I know that hearing about defunding or abolishing police might raise questions for some of you. Maybe you’ve never heard these idea before, or perhaps they makes you feel uncomfortable or even scared. Please sit with that feeling.
Growing up in Eagan, Minnesota – a predominantly white suburb with flourishing schools and robust community programs – I learned to trust the police and to see them as safe. Not because of Eagan’s police force or the color of the people who live there, but because residents had access to quality food, schools, and shelter. It’s taken years of unlearning to realize that’s not the reality for my community or me.
Many of you may already live in a community where police have little or no presence. But if you don’t, imagine what your community could look like if we invested the money spent on police in parks, schools, libraries, or recreation centers instead.
We must acknowledge the painful reality that policing has its roots in racism, and the police system continues to be racist in all its parts: traffic stops, bail, prisons. The violent reaction of police to protests for justice for George Floyd in Minnesota and nationwide has only reinforced the fact that police do not keep many of us – particularly Black people – safe.
There are many excellent resources out there about dismantling the police. I highly recommend the teachings and work of Mariame Kaba, Critical Resistance, and MPD150.
Here are some more ideas to get you started:
In this fight, we must center and actively listen to the voices and lived experiences of Black people around you. Step back, reflect on our own experiences, and learn. I know I shared this quote from artists and activists in my last email, but it bears repeating: There was a time before police, and there will be a time after.
In solidarity,
LyLy
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