ACLU Supporter, we're launching our first annual Community Safety Week this week to advocate for alternatives to police and evidence-based solutions that prevent crime and strengthen communities.

That means we'll be on Capitol Hill calling on Congress to invest in public safety solutions that actually work – like alternative response programs that send non-police first responders like social workers to handle certain emergency calls.

And as colleges and universities continue to escalate tensions on campuses by calling militarized law enforcement on peaceful protests – this work is all the more important.

At the top of the week, here are three things you should know:

• Congress must invest in alternative response models that do not include police. We need to end our over-reliance on police to fix problems that shouldn't be their job to handle in the first place. Social workers or behavioral health professionals are better suited to respond to certain emergencies, including mental health crises, where trained crisis response experts can offer help and treatment while de-escalating a situation. Read more about alternative crisis response programs.
• Our taxpayer dollars should fund programs that foster safety by addressing the root causes of crime – including allocations for mental health programs, affordable housing, addiction care, opportunities for at-risk youth, and more. Congress must prioritize proven solutions to prevent crime, rather than maximizing funding for police.
• Police don't keep the peace. Recently, we've seen disturbing arrests of students and faculty protesting the war in Gaza on campuses across the country. Police on campus can endanger student communities – especially given the history of police violence against communities of color. Armed police on campuses should be an absolute last resort – and arresting protestors will only escalate tensions on campus. If you or someone you know is protesting on campus, know your rights. (This link will take you to a third party website, instagram.com.)

There are better solutions to community safety – and we'll be on Capitol Hill all week fighting for them. Thank you for your support for a more just world.

– The ACLU Team