When we say ‘defund the police,’ we are taking the position that an increased investment in the police is a direct and explicit investment in violence against communities of color -- meaning, that we need to defund and divest from the police, and invest in community violence prevention programs. Not only that, but investing in things that cause crime, such a lack of healthcare, a lack of transportation, a lack of housing, and understanding that police brutality is a symptom of larger structural issues. 

Once we divest from the police as the only means to serve and protect, we can invest in mental health resources, domestic violence resources, and ensure our communities are actually being protected and not vulnerable at the hands of the police. 

-- Daud, Board Member

You can donate to help invest in community-led programs here!

What I’m most hopeful about is people power! I’m so excited to see people taking to the streets and standing up for what they believe in, and I think that is the best way that we’re going to get change. 

-- Nurah, Youth Congress Member

Are you taking to the streets? Make sure you brush up on your protestor’s rights!

It’s a great question -- I think all too often we get bogged down with just talking about mass shootings, when mass shootings are only 1% of gun violence. And I don’t say that to diminish the impact of mass shootings, but to show how big of an issue gun violence is. Anytime a police officer takes out a gun and shoots someone, that is gun violence.

So what we’re working on at MFOL is divesting funds -- that means taking money from police departments -- and giving it to violence interrupters, violence prevention agencies, and organizations on the ground. These organizations take a localized approach to ending gun violence. And they assess who is the most at risk to commit gun violence and who is the most at risk to being shot. They intervene personally and locally, and it’s proven at the local level to save lives, especially in Black and brown communities. So the police departments and these institutions that we’ve grown up believing were here to protect us -- it’s not really the way it works across the country. We see there are a lot of communities, specifically the Black community, who fear police departments and fear dying at the hands of police. So when we talk about police violence in the vernacular of gun violence, we have to realize that Black people are most at risk. The next thing we have to realize is we have to take specific and bold moves to help end gun violence in general, but specifically as it relates to the police.

 -- Maxwell, National Organizing Director

Sign our Peace Plan to support specific and bold change! 

The protests won’t end. Our radical voices are pushing awareness of Black and brown voices and trauma, and holding politicians accountable for their unwillingness to take an anti-racism stance. We will continue to hold conversations and speak with politicians and community leaders to reimagine our society without oppressive systems in place (such as police/prisons). 

-- Bria, Board Member

Continue to push for radical change by taking action! 

The best way to get involved as a minor is to volunteer with an organization or campaign you believe in. Just because you can’t vote doesn’t mean you can’t work towards educating and inspiring others to vote for justice. Not only will it make a huge difference in their lives, but it’ll also reaffirm and mold your own beliefs. 

-- Maxwell, National Organizing Director

Do you believe in the work MFOL is doing? Sign up to join a chapter here!