Dear MoveOn member,

Overfunding police departments has not made America safer or better; in
fact, it has taken away crucial resources from basic infrastructure and
social safety net programs.^1

In 2019, the Washington, D.C., government allocated more money to police
and corrections than to programs for jobs, young people, and mental health
combined. Even though D.C. is facing a $1.5 billion revenue loss for the
current and upcoming fiscal years due to the coronavirus pandemic, the
Metropolitan Police Department could see its budget increase to well over
half a billion dollars, if the D.C. Council approves Mayor Bowser's
proposal.^2

[ [link removed]- ]Start a petition calling on Mayor Muriel Bowser to defund the D.C.
police department by cutting its massive budget and instead use the money
to support D.C.'s social and human services.

The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare D.C.'s staggering income inequality
and the inequitable access to housing and health care. Instead of
providing social programs, addressing racial and class inequality, and
confronting the underlying causes of poverty and violence, the D.C.
government continues to overfund its police department in an effort to
appear tough on crime.

Police departments with bloated budgets are not solving the problems
plaguing our communities.

Local governments should defund police departments that are using their
huge budgets to implement policies that increase harassment, arrests, and
police violence, especially in Black communities and other communities of
color.^3

If police departments are defunded, the money could be used to fund
initiatives that will ensure our safety, security, and well-being, without
the violence and racism inherent in the criminal justice system. Without
unnecessary spending on policing, governments would be able to
fund education and employment, ensure access to housing and food, provide
social services, and institute effective community-led health and safety
strategies.

Will you start a MoveOn petition calling on Mayor Muriel Bowser and other
Washington, D.C., lawmakers to cut the D.C. police department's massive
budget and use that money to support D.C.'s social and human services that
are desperately needed, especially during a devastating pandemic?

This seems like an important moment for members of the public to act—but
first a local member like you needs to take the lead by launching a
campaign on MoveOn's online petition site. If you get the petition
started, we'll give you support and help you keep it going. Will you take
the lead?

[ [link removed]- ]Yes, please help me start this petition.

[ [link removed]- ]I can't start the petition, but I would like to take action on it if
someone else does.

MoveOn members like you are leading and winning campaigns all over the
country, using the tools and resources that MoveOn provides. Together,
we can run and win more campaigns and mobilize for a better society—one
where everyone can thrive.

Thanks for all you do.

–Isbah, Arvin, Tillie, Erica, and the rest of the team

P.S. If this issue doesn't interest you, but you want to create a petition
about another important issue, [ [link removed]- ]click here.

Sources:

1. "Freedom to Thrive: Reimagining Safety & Security in Our Communities,"
The Center for Popular Democracy, July 4, 2017
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2. "The Movement To Defund D.C. Police," Washington City Paper, June 4,
2020
[link removed]-

3. "Democrats are ignoring a key piece of criminal justice reform —
slicing police budgets," The Washington Post, January 16, 2020
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