TELL THE ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL TO DEFUND THE POLICE

In the midst of the widespread pandemic that is racism, police brutality is something that is as pervasive in Atlanta as in many other major cities. An impactful change is needed in our city to prevent the growth of this problem that disproportionately affects Black lives everywhere. George Floyd’s death has prompted city governments in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle to begin defunding their police force. In order to ensure the protection of its residents, we are pressing the Atlanta City Council to follow their example. 

Defunding, or divesting the Atlanta Police Department would demand our community leader’s accountability for maintaining the safety and health of Atlanta’s residents, especially the Black people that account for over half the city’s population. These resources can be taken and invested into helping communities in a city whose history is rooted in protecting civil rights. We are calling on our city council to commit to the following by Monday, June 15th at 11:30am:

1. To immediately revise the 2021 Fiscal Year budget, which includes a $15 million increase prioritized for police funding, and $18 million increase for funding the Atlanta Correctional Detention Center.
2. To protect and expand current investment in community-led health and safety strategies, instead of investing in police.
3. To prioritize police reform on all levels, by:
     a. Never again voting to increase police funding, or to increase the police department's budget.
     b. Mandating a zero-tolerance approach in penalizing and/or prosecuting police officers who kill unarmed, non-violent and non-resisting individuals in an arrest.
     c. Preventing further militarization and privatization of the police.
     d. Increasing involvement of mental health professionals, social workers, EMTs, nurses, and firefighters as first responders to non-violent crimes and individuals in crisis. Investing in allocating resources for these teams.
4. To re-invest in the city’s Black communities, which house people who are affected by police brutality the most.
5. To decrease police spending and re-invest in healthcare, education, greenspaces, living-wage policies and affordable housing.

Our city needs the trust and confidence that our local officials will do everything to protect our health and safety. The current system is not working and must be replaced. Now is the time to invest in a safe, liberated future for Atlanta. We cannot keep funding racial injustice or attacks on Black lives.

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY & TELL OUR CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE THE PLEDGE!

Defunding the police explained further:
https://www.newsweek.com/defund-police-movement-growing-heres-what-it-actually-means-1508761
The End of Policing: a Free EBook: https://www.versobooks.com/books/2426-the-end-of-policing (click on the Ebook tab!)