The DC Council just postponed its Metropolitan Police Department budget hearing to solicit public input. Support peaceful protesters in DC by pushing for one of the key demands: defund the DC police!

Dear John,

Peaceful protests are getting violently repressed by the DC police, Park Police, National Guard, Secret Service and other security forces. The unconscionable murder of George Floyd was the spark for these protests, and people in DC are out on the streets not just for George, but also for D’Quan Young, Marqueese Alston and Jeff Price - three black men who were killed by the DC police in the span of one month!

CODEPINK joins the demands of local groups like Stop Police Terror, SURJ DC and others to defund the DC police, end stop-and-frisk, end DC police collaboration with ICE and push for community control over the police. We can take action at the local level by submitting testimony for a DC police budget hearing.

The Judiciary Committee of the DC Council was set to hold this closed budget hearing for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) this week. However, pressure from activists and this week’s protests made them rethink their plans, reschedule the hearing and solicit public participation.

Let’s all participate by submitting testimony!

Here’s three different ways to do it:
Make a video, no longer than three minutes, then upload it to the Judiciary Committee using DropBox by clicking here. 
Submit voicemail testimony to the Committee’s GoogleVoice number at (202) 350-1362.
Email written testimony to [email protected]

Why defund the MPD? The MPD’s budget is set to be increased - again! It’s already over half a billion dollars, yet despite all this money, homicides and violent crimes are increasing in DC. Instead of increasing the police budget, the DC council could invest in our communities by fully funding violence prevention programs, or it could invest in healthcare, housing, jobs, education or any of the other human rights not being fully guaranteed by the city’s authorities.

This link contains guidelines and talking points for submitting testimony. Here’s one big tip: make it personal. Many of us were harassed or bullied last year by the DC police at the Venezuelan embassy, for example.

Working to end police racism and repression,
The CODEPINK DC team: Medea, Teri, Paki, Leila, Michelle and Leonardo

P.S. If you haven’t already, make sure to sign our petition asking Congress to eliminate the 1033 program, which allows the U.S. military to transfer weapons and equipment to local police departments.

P.P.S. On July 4th, CODEPINK will hold peace caravans throughout the country. Sign up here to participate!