It seemed like an impossible task, like carrying water in your bare hands up a mountain and trying not to spill any. Still, protestors marching in Minneapolis have started to make massive waves in how the justice system works in their city.
As reported by The New York Times, nine members of the Minneapolis City Council vowed yesterday to dismantle the city's police force in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police officer's two weeks ago.
Nine members of the council announced during a gathering that the city's policing system was beyond reform and would instead focus on implementing a community-based system of justice. While massive, it is unclear right now what specifically that will look like.
What makes this especially interesting is just before this announcement, the city's Mayor Jacob Frey hesitated and then rejected the idea of abolishing the police department when asked at a rally on Saturday. While the council does control the city's budget including funds allocated to the police department, Frey has final approval on decisions like this. However, as noted above enough members of the council have banded together to supersede anything the mayor thinks on the matter.
In Minneapolis, African Americans make up 20% of the population, and when police use force, 60% of the time it's on an African American, according to date provided by the city of Minneapolis.
Personally, I don't think dismantling the city's police force is a good idea. I think the idea of it is just a rallying call for crime to flood the city. I also don't believe that people would be as equipped to handle extreme situations homicide cases, theft and robbery like an officer of the law would be. going off of that, I believe that there would be a new power shift in communities where there isn't a police force and something just as brutal and less accountability could spring up.
That being said, I do believe that police departments in major cities across the U.S. should have their budgets cut. That money could go to community initiatives aimed at stopping crime at the root cause - inequality.
I also believe that the policing system in our nation is deeply deeply flawed and in some cases like that of Minneapolis, sometimes it's best to throw it in the can and start over. However community-led initiatives alone are not enough, just like an overly armed police force is too much.
What is happening in Minneapolis with dismantling their force will take a long time and there will be plenty of hurdles to go through, including a formidable police union. However, if pulled off correctly it could lead to sweeping changes in a lot of U.S. cities.
Until I can see what I society can look like without those that protect it, I just don't think completely dismantling our police forces is a good idea.
-Alex
P.S. For those who will inevitably want to talk about how whites are killed more than blacks in America here are some quick links for you to read up on before saying anything:
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates on what will happen.
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