Fri 7/17 @ 12:30PM
There’s been a lot of discussion swirling around how communities should deal with police departments which have been increasingly exposed as out of control, militarized forces that treat citizens with disrespect and disregard for their safety and lives.
The call to “defund the policy” has become a rallying cry for some people who want to see change, while it’s also been used as a weapon to brand people as “anti police.” While Joe Biden has said he doesn’t favor defunding, Trump has claimed all Democrats want to “do away with “ police. While some have taken it that way (whether honestly or dishonestly), other police reform advocates have made it clear that they want to see money currently used for armed law enforcement redirected toward transformational crime-reducing programs such as educational programs, mental health treatment centers, social workers and safe, affordable housing.
So what does “Defund the police” really mean? That is the topic of an upcoming virtual forum hosted by the City Club of Cleveland.
The speaker is Georgetown Law Center professor Christy Lopez who specializes in criminal justice and police and criminal justice reform and led the investigation into the Ferguson Police Department following the killing of Michael Brown in 2014. She’ll join the moderator, City Club of Cleveland CEO Dan Moultrop, to answer questions such as “What would really happen if we divested from police departments across the nation?” “Where would the divestments go? What would happen when we dial 911?” and “How might American society evolve with a different definition of what constitutes ‘police’ and ‘policing?’”
To join the livestreamed forum go here. Questions should be tweeted @TheCityClub or sent as a text to 330-541-5794.
cityclub.org/forums/what-does-it-mean-to-defund-the-police
1317 Euclid Ave suite 100, Cleveland, OH 44115
Cleveland, OH 44115