John,

In the past weeks, the national conversation around defunding the police has blown up.

More people are becoming aware of the evidence that police do not reduce crime.¹ When police violence is one of the leading causes of death for young Black men, our leaders cannot claim this system is made to keep us safe.²

Communities all across the country are now engaging in critical conversations around what it means to defund the police and how we will be safer as a result. It’s clear that it’s time to tear down the systems that killed Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless others. But there’s still an ongoing debate about what defunding the police should look like and where to reinvest this money to truly keep people safe and our communities stable.

Right now, we’re witnessing a big shift in the national conversation around the role of police. Cities like Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Seattle have already initiated steps toward slashing millions of dollars from police budgets.

These bold moves have prompted questions from folks on both sides of the aisle about how we should reinvest this money and what public safety will look like in the future.

What we know for sure is that the current system has failed to protect Black lives. This system has allowed 995 out of 1000 sexual assaulters to walk free after a crime is reported. Public safety doesn't come from investing in a system that oppresses us. Public safety is about making sure that our basic needs are met.

But if we want to bring to life a new vision for public safety that centers our communities, we first need to understand what this vision looks like for each of us.

There are no wrong answers. Please take our Defund the Police survey today and let us know how you envision public safety in the future.

In solidarity,

Women’s March