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#Justice4Floyd Chicago protest. Photo: Sarah-Ji/@loveandstrugglephotos
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Dear John,
None of us should fear violence in our communities, especially from those supposedly charged with promoting public safety. Yet George Floyd, Eric Garner, Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, and countless other Black and brown people have died at the hands of police—and a racist system that disproportionately targets people of color for police brutality, imprisonment, and death.
Tell your governor to invest in our communities, not policing!
People across the U.S. have peacefully demonstrated their outrage at the murder of George Floyd and all police violence—as well as the racial and economic injustices that pervade every aspect of our society. Those committing and encouraging acts of violence against protesters – including our president – are trying to drown out their message. So let’s amplify a call from the Movement for Black Lives.
Every year, U.S. cities collectively spend $100 billion on policing—while investments in schools, health care, housing, and transformative justice programs go underfunded, particularly in communities of color. We need to move that money and defund the police.
Our tax dollars must be reallocated from a racist system that targets Black and brown people with impunity—and invested instead in programs that keep everyone in our communities healthy and safe.
A safer, more just future begins with shifting funding away from the police and into education, health care, and transformative forms of justice that truly center community well-being. Please join us in calling on your governor to support a drastic change in budget priorities for the health, safety, and well-being of all.
In solidarity,
Lewis Webb
Healing Justice Coordinator, AFSC
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