If we are going to #DefundThePolice and get justice for black folks a lot has to happen. One of those things is electing city council people, mayors, county commissioners, county executives, school boards, DAs, sheriffs, coroners, and state legislators. Here is why... 1/14
Mayors + councils often have purview over police departments + funding. They also sometimes control police department policy. School boards can cut police contracts. County governments often fund the jails. DAs control whether we prosecute police. Sheriffs enforce warrants 2/14
Coroners decide cause of death. State legislators often protect police departments and individual police officers by keeping them from being fired, enshrining "police bills of rights" into law, and more 3/14
A thing we all need to acknowledge is that many of the cities where we're seeing police violence are run by Democrats. After some self-reflecting and convos with friends here is why... (4/14)
1) Most cities elect their councils and mayors on a non-partisan basis (LA + NYC are exceptions). That means folks get elected with broader coalitions than in partisan pimaries. To win re-election, these electeds feel like they need to hold these coalitions together. 5/14
2) The police unions are strong. They give money, they knocck on doos, and their friends/families vote. They've flexed their political muscles to the point that many electeds are afraid of them. They also, often, partner with other labor orgs like the firefighters 6/14
This combination of forces makes them difficult to beat. If you combine the police and firefighters unions together you're talking about massive workforces with loyal supporters. 7/14
3) Many electeds are running to be something, not to do something. Meaning, they're running for city offices as a springboard for higher office. Therefore, they cannot afford to piss of the police unions and their supporters. 8/14
4. A lot of elected officials are asleep at the wheel. They know there are problems with the police, but taking them on requires political capital, and they've never been forced into a position where they've felt like it was worth spending that capital. 9/14
Breaking this cycle is going to require an "all of the above" approach that combines activism, accountability, and electoral politics. We need to elect leaders at the city and county levels that give a shit about black people. We also campaigns in ever American city... 10/14
To pressure the folks already in elected office to do the right thing and #DefundThePolice. Donors also need to step up and fund this work. Much of it is already happening, but it's always underfunded. Local groups need the resources to counterbalance the police unions 11/14
We also need entities like the @AFLCIO to put their money where their mouth is, and kick the police union out of the federation. We need to create consequences for other unions to partner with the police union. 12/14
Ultimately, we need policy makers who give a shit, a well-funded counterbalance to police unions, people power that comes from movements, and unions to hold their own accountable. Much of this happens in pockets, so it needs to be backed by real resources. 13/14
Then, maybe we as Democrats can demonstrate that we're living by our own values, rather than cowering in the corner while the police murder and loot at will. It's more important than any one person's political career, and will take all of us to fix 14/14
