Thread by @VICE

For decades, many Black Americans have believed that cops’ presence will either make a situation worse—or won’t have any impact. The solution has sometimes been to not call the police at all, even in circumstances where they felt unsafe. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

Some white people are now rethinking whether it’s a good idea to rely on law enforcement, especially if summoning the police could harm someone. And entire cities have considered whether police officers are the best response to certain kinds of offenses. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

But if not the cops, who are people supposed to call when they’re in need? vice.com/en/article/wx5…

Places like New York City, Portland, and Anaheim, California, have toyed with at least one solution: Social workers or other professionals could respond to certain reports of people experiencing mental distress or homelessness, rather than the cops. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

Austin, Texas, for example, slashed its policing budget and poured some of the leftover funds into providing services for homeless people living in permanent supportive housing. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

Another option are community-based violence prevention programs to mediate disputes and support crime survivors, like New Jersey’s Asbury Park Transformative Justice Project. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

After being arrested for defending herself from her abuser, Jennifer Lewinski co-founded the organization to establish “community-run safety units,” run by volunteers and social workers, so residents have someone they can call without involving the police. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

“We’re taught that they [police] will help you,” Lewinski said, “but I know from experience, from education, from other people's experience that I have been gifted, that most often when the police come, there are more problems—not less.” vice.com/en/article/wx5…

“The things that create safety are also the things that create strong individuals, strong families, strong communities,” said Dr. Amara Enyia, the policy and research coordinator for the Movement for Black Lives. vice.com/en/article/wx5…

On May 25th 2020, a reckoning with systemic racism was reignited. The #StillHere project aims to document how far we’ve come since then—and how much further we have to go. vice.com/en/article/n7b…