4 ms·

When I hear the phrase, to me it's more about shifting resources from punishment based (policing), to community development in historically underserved minority

When I hear the phrase, to me it's more about shifting resources from punishment based (policing), to community development in historically underserved minority communities. The effects of redlining mean we still have many highly racially segregated cities. It's directly acknowledging and confronting that history, which is uncomfortable for a lot of white people. One can support both public safety and community development, and it's win-win if helping raise people up out of poverty reduces the need for police presence.

autoexec 5y ago
> When I hear the phrase, to me it's more about shifting resources from punishment based (policing), to community development Nothing in the phrase "defund the police" says anything about any of that. It is the goal, but the slogan doesn't reflect that anywhere in any way. When you hear it, you think about the intended meaning, while the vast majority hears only what it actually says which is "remove funding from the police" and no one wants that. Conservatives are fearful people and those against police reform took the opportunity handed to them and reinforced that very message: "If you let these liberals have their way they will make it impossible for police to protect you by defunding them". It's too bad because lots of people who would support reforms to police want nothing to do with any effort under the "defund the police" banner. No one wants a police force that doesn't have any funds.
- stadium 5y ago
  > while the vast majority hears only what it actually says which is "remove funding from the police" and no one wants that. The vast majority of white people? It's okay to be angry about state executions at the hands of police, and about the legacy of slavery. The wording reflects that anger. If it makes white people uncomfortable that's their problem. (This is coming from a white person who does not self-identify as "liberal")

autoexec 5y ago

> When I hear the phrase, to me it's more about shifting resources from punishment based (policing), to community development Nothing in the phrase "defund the police" says anything about any of that. It is the goal, but the slogan doesn't reflect that anywhere in any way. When you hear it, you think about the intended meaning, while the vast majority hears only what it actually says which is "remove funding from the police" and no one wants that. Conservatives are fearful people and those against police reform took the opportunity handed to them and reinforced that very message: "If you let these liberals have their way they will make it impossible for police to protect you by defunding them". It's too bad because lots of people who would support reforms to police want nothing to do with any effort under the "defund the police" banner. No one wants a police force that doesn't have any funds.

stadium 5y ago
> while the vast majority hears only what it actually says which is "remove funding from the police" and no one wants that. The vast majority of white people? It's okay to be angry about state executions at the hands of police, and about the legacy of slavery. The wording reflects that anger. If it makes white people uncomfortable that's their problem. (This is coming from a white person who does not self-identify as "liberal")