What "defund the police" really means

Vox
26 Jun 202010:47
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script discusses the 'Defund the Police' movement, highlighting the disproportionate allocation of city budgets to policing over essential services. It explores the impact of over-policing and under-policing, the role of police in schools, and the potential for reallocating police funds to education, housing, and mental healthcare. The movement aims to rethink public safety and challenge the current system that disproportionately affects marginalized communities.

Takeaways
  • 🎨 The 'Black Lives Matter' movement has prompted a reevaluation of public safety priorities, with the slogan 'Defund the Police' gaining traction among protesters.
  • 💰 The U.S. spends $100 billion annually on policing, with significant disparities in budget allocations compared to other essential services like health, housing, and education.
  • 🚓 Over-policing is prevalent in the U.S., with the majority of arrests being for minor offenses, particularly in black and impoverished communities.
  • 🔍 There is a question of effectiveness in policing, with research suggesting that the police may not be effectively deterring violence and could be contributing to it.
  • 🏫 The prioritization of police over other services is evident in schools, where some have police but lack counselors or nurses, impacting the well-being of students.
  • 🚑 The role of police as first responders to mental health emergencies is highlighted, with a significant number of police shootings involving individuals with mental health issues.
  • 🛡️ The need to rethink police budgets has been underscored by the coronavirus pandemic, with police budgets remaining largely intact while other services face cuts.
  • 🏛️ The movement to defund the police advocates for reallocating police funding to other services that address basic human needs and contribute to community safety.
  • 🛑 The idea of defunding is not just about cutting budgets but about creating better responses to crime and investing in alternative models for public safety.
  • 🏙️ Some cities have already implemented alternative safety models, dispatching mental health professionals for certain 911 calls instead of the police.
  • 🔄 The defund movement is a gateway to broader discussions on reprioritization and could be a first step towards the eventual abolition of the current police system.
Q & A

  • What was the initial response of Black Lives Matter activists to the Washington DC mayor's statement?

    -The Black Lives Matter activists responded with their own message within 24 hours, which was 'Defund the Police.'

  • What does the slogan 'Defund the Police' imply in the context of the script?

    -The slogan 'Defund the Police' implies a call to redirect the billions of dollars cities spend on police to other services like education, housing, jobs, or mental healthcare, as a means to rethink public safety.

  • How much does the US spend on policing annually, according to the script?

    -The US spends $100 billion every year on policing, most of which comes from local municipalities.

  • What was the budget allocated for the police department in New York City last year?

    -New York City appropriated $5.9 billion to the police department last year.

  • What is the issue with the current emphasis on policing in the US, as mentioned in the script?

    -The current emphasis on policing in the US has led to over-policing and under-policing simultaneously, with heavy-handed approaches in minor offenses and low arrest rates for violent crimes, especially in communities of color.

  • How does the script describe the impact of prioritizing the police over other services in schools?

    -The script describes that 1.7 million students are in schools with police but no counselors, and 3 million have police but no nurses, indicating a misallocation of resources.

  • What is the connection between police shootings and mental health issues mentioned in the script?

    -The script mentions that one in every four deaths from police shootings are people with mental health problems, highlighting the need for alternative responders for mental health-related emergencies.

  • How does the script suggest reallocating resources from the police budget could improve community safety?

    -The script suggests that reallocating resources could involve investing in crisis intervention teams, mental health teams, or social workers, and addressing basic needs like housing and jobs, which could ultimately make communities safer.

  • What is the proposed action in Minneapolis regarding their police department, as per the script?

    -The Minneapolis City Council voted to completely disband its police department and create a new model for public safety.

  • What has been the general public opinion on defunding the police, according to the script?

    -According to a poll mentioned in the script conducted in early June, only about a quarter of Americans favored cutting funding for police departments.

  • What is the broader goal of the 'Defund the Police' movement beyond reallocating resources, as described in the script?

    -The broader goal of the 'Defund the Police' movement is to alter what public safety looks like in the US, with some advocating for the eventual abolition of the police as we know it.

Outlines
00:00
📊 Policing Budgets and Societal Prioritization

The first paragraph discusses the concept of defunding the police in the United States, sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement. It highlights the significant allocation of city budgets to police departments, using New York City and Chicago as examples, and points out the stark contrast to the funding for social services. The paragraph emphasizes the over-policing of minor offenses in marginalized communities and the under-policing of violent crimes, questioning the effectiveness of police in deterring violence. It also touches on the role of police in schools and their response to mental health emergencies, suggesting that reallocating police funding could lead to better community services and a more equitable society.

05:03
🛡 Rethinking Public Safety and the Defund Movement

The second paragraph delves into the movement to defund the police, arguing that the current policing system is not equally serving everyone and is part of a larger economy of punishment. It acknowledges the failures of past reforms and the need for a complete reimagining of public safety. The paragraph addresses concerns about personal safety without police and suggests alternative models of first response, such as mental health professionals and social workers. It also points out that reallocating police funding could involve investing in community services that address basic needs, potentially reducing crime and improving public safety. The discussion includes the potential for abolition of the current police system and the beginning of a broader conversation on reprioritization of societal resources.

10:05
🌟 The Impact of Protests and the Call for Change

The final paragraph reflects on the recent tragic events and the inspiring response from the public, emphasizing the urgency of the conversation around protecting black lives. It calls for a new role in ensuring safety for black communities and suggests that the protests have brought the slogan 'defund the police' into the mainstream. The paragraph highlights the impact of public pressure and protests on local governments, with examples of cities taking steps towards defunding or even disbanding their police departments, and creating new models for public safety.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Defund the Police
The phrase 'Defund the Police' is a call to action that has gained significant traction in the wake of protests against police brutality. It suggests reallocating a portion of the budget currently dedicated to police departments to other community services such as education, housing, and mental healthcare. In the script, it is presented as a response to the disproportionate focus on policing over other societal needs, highlighting the idea that the current system of policing does not serve everyone equally.
💡Police Brutality
Police brutality refers to the excessive use of force by police officers, often resulting in injury or death. The script discusses this in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests that have erupted in response to incidents like the death of George Floyd. It underscores the need for reform and the questioning of the role of police in society.
💡Budget Priorities
Budget priorities are the areas of spending that a government or municipality chooses to emphasize. The script points out the significant disparities in how cities like New York and Chicago allocate their budgets, with a heavy emphasis on policing compared to other services like health, housing, and community development. This highlights the societal choices that contribute to over-policing and under-serving communities.
💡Over-policing
Over-policing is the excessive presence or activity of police in certain areas, often leading to a high number of arrests for minor offenses. The script uses this term to describe the situation in black and poor neighborhoods, where arrests for minor infractions like drug possession or public drinking are common, suggesting a heavy-handed approach that does not necessarily contribute to community safety.
💡Under-policing
Under-policing refers to a lack of police presence or activity in certain areas, leading to a perceived reduction in police services. In the script, this is contrasted with over-policing, noting that while arrests for minor offenses are common, arrests for violent crimes are less frequent, leaving communities of color underserved and potentially more vulnerable to violence.
💡Mental Health
Mental health is a significant issue in the context of policing, as many 911 calls involve mental health emergencies. The script points out that police officers are often the first responders in these situations, which can be problematic given the high proportion of police shootings involving individuals with mental health issues. The need for alternative responses, such as mental health professionals, is emphasized.
💡Public Safety
Public safety encompasses the measures taken to ensure the well-being of the public, including protection from crime and violence. The script challenges the traditional notion of public safety, which has largely been equated with policing, and suggests that reimagining public safety could involve a broader range of services and responses to meet community needs more effectively.
💡Redistribution of Resources
The redistribution of resources is a central tenet of the defund the police movement, advocating for the reallocation of funds from police departments to other areas such as education, housing, and mental healthcare. The script illustrates this concept by discussing the potential benefits of investing in alternative services and the need to rethink what constitutes public safety.
💡Accountability
Accountability in the context of policing refers to the need for police departments and officers to be held responsible for their actions, particularly in cases of excessive force or misconduct. The script discusses the limitations of current accountability measures, such as body cameras and bias training, and suggests that more fundamental changes are needed to address systemic issues within police departments.
💡Reform
Reform in this context refers to changes made to improve the structure or function of a system, such as policing. The script mentions reforms like police body cameras and bias training, but also highlights the limitations of these measures in addressing the broader issues of police brutality and the need for more comprehensive changes.
💡Community Services
Community services are programs and resources provided to support the well-being of a community, such as education, housing, and healthcare. The script emphasizes the importance of investing in these services as part of a broader approach to public safety, suggesting that addressing basic needs can contribute to reducing crime and improving community well-being.
Highlights

Washington DC mayor unveils 'Black Lives Matter' painted on street leading to the White House.

Activists respond with 'Defund the Police', sparking a nationwide movement.

The US spends $100 billion annually on policing, primarily from local municipalities.

New York City allocated $5.9 billion to police, contrasting with lesser amounts for social services.

Chicago's policing budget is nearly twice that of other essential departments combined.

US policing emphasizes punishment over meeting basic human needs.

Over-policing and under-policing coexist, affecting minority communities disproportionately.

Police arrest over 10 million people yearly, mostly for minor offenses in impoverished areas.

Research suggests police have little influence on deterring violence.

Mental health-related 911 calls often result in police as first responders, not mental health professionals.

1.7 million students in US schools have police but no counselors; 3 million have no nurses.

Defunding the police is proposed to redirect funds to education, housing, jobs, and mental healthcare.

The movement aims to rethink public safety as current policing does not serve everyone equally.

Police reforms, like body cameras, have not reduced police brutality and added costs.

Minneapolis police had reforms but still failed to prevent George Floyd's death.

Defunding police is polarizing, with concerns about personal and public safety.

Alternative models for safety, like mental health professionals for 911 calls, are being implemented.

Investing in social services could lead to safer communities by addressing basic needs.

Activists aim to not only defund but also to eventually abolish the police as we know it.

Public pressure and protests have led to some cities beginning to defund or disband police departments.

Despite being a minority view nationally, defunding efforts are gaining traction in some areas.

Transcripts

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Defund PoliceCommunity SafetyPolice BrutalityBudget ReallocationSocial JusticePublic HealthEducation ReformCriminal JusticeRacial EqualityProtest MovementMental Health