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It may sound radical at first -

When you consider how often we hear about funding cuts for things like education, health care, and social services, defunding the police doesn’t sound so radical, especially since their budgets have been steadily increasing.

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Consequences of defunded community services -

When community infrastructures like after-school programs, affordable housing, childcare, and health services are defunded, there are less counselors and support services within the community to help people meet their needs. Police are then sent in to “solve” the problems that inevitably arise.

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Defunding is really reallocating -

The money will be reallocated to marginalized communities through things like mental health services, livable wages, food security, education, employment, and affordable housing.

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Making communities safer -

Since crime is widely recognized as a response to social conditions, when needs are met—in a sustainable way, through grassroots groups who know their communities—the idea is that there will be much less need for police.

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The pandemic is laying on pressure - While nurses have been reporting lack of supplies in dealing with COVID-19 patients, even resorting to wearing garbage bags, the onslaught of cops in riot gear made state priorities clear. It’s reported that the cost of one police officer's riot gear is enough to buy PPE for 31 nurses.

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Why not reform police instead of defunding? -

Policing reforms are changes to protocols including implicit bias training, mindfulness, de-escalation, police-community dialogue, body cameras, etc. It sounds nice, but it costs cities millions of dollars and Minneapolis is just one example of how none of the aforementioned reform tactics work.

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Reducing budget, reducing power -

In the last few decades, police power and jurisdiction has expanded exponentially, but it's asking too much of police (whose training is usually around or less than 870 hours), as they respond to calls related to mental health, domestic violence, drug addiction, homelessness, and other areas where they’re not especially trained.

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No more "war on crime" -

Those who are calling to defund the police want to end the violent approach that disproportionately leaves black and brown people imprisoned or killed, and instead find better ways to uplift communities.

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Defunding is already starting -

In Minneapolis, the site of George Floyd's murder, the city council members announced their intent to disband the Minneapolis Police Department and invest in community-led public safety.

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Los Angeles is also taking steps -

In 2020, they had cut US$150 million from the police budget, which sounds like a lot, but it came out of their budget of US$1.8 billion. On the day of Derek Chauvin's trial, however, they announced a projected US$3 billion increase to the LAPD, calling much criticism. 

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Celebrities in support: John Legend -

The singer signed the petition and also pledged to donate money to Movement for Black Lives, National Lawyers Guild, and The Bail Project to protect Americans' "first amendment right to peacefully protest oppression and injustice."

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Natalie Portman -

The actress has been advocating for a decrease in police budgets, and she shared the words of James Baldwin: "You always told me it takes time... how much time do you want for your progress?"

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Kendrick Sampson -

The 'Insecure' and 'Flash' actor has signed the petition and been on the frontlines of protests, witnessing police brutality on peaceful demonstrators and getting hit with rubber bullets himself. "Now is the time," he wrote on Instagram, "to make concrete demands for a future where Black lives not only matter, but can thrive."

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Brie Larson -

The actress was vocal about the petition to defund police, and called on her followers to get Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to cut the proposed budget. She shared photos with the hashtag #CareNotCops.

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The Weeknd -

The singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, signed the letter to defund police and also shared screenshots of his donation receipts: US$200,000 to the Black Lives Matter Global Network, US$200,000 to The Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Legal Defense Initiative, and US$100,000 to National Bail Out.

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Emily Ratajkowski -

The model and activist has been in protests in LA, and tweeted, "How many cops have resigned because their bosses ordered them to shoot rubber bullets and tear gas at unarmed civilians? #DefundThePolice."

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Ava DuVernay - It's probably no surprise the director of the much-cited documentary '13th' wants to defund the police. She warned on Twitter that supporters must know it's a demand and not a request, that the activists who started this movement long ago must be centered, that it's just one piece of a larger puzzle, and that they must commit to rejecting crumbs.

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Lizzo -

The singer has shared several links to bail funds, community relief efforts, and initiatives to defund the police, noting that she has made donations and signed the petition.

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Megan Rapinoe - The professional soccer player stated on Instagram that she signed the petition to defund police, and she also posted an infographic from Campaign Zero suggesting policies for police departments like banning chokeholds and requiring de-escalation.

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Issa Rae -

The 'Insecure' creator/star was snapped protesting on the street with a sign that read, "Bye, Policia! Defund the police."

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Taraji P. Henson -

In addition to signing the petition, the actress has also shared footage of the protests to her Instagram page and urged people to vote in the presidential primary election.

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Common -

The rapper and actor signed the petition and has urged his followers to make their voices heard at the voting booth.

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Yara Shahidi - The actress signed the Movement for Black Lives' letter, and suggested with an infographic on Instagram that the funds go towards housing the homeless, providing school resources, and expanding mental health care.

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Tessa Thompson -

The 'Westworld' actress signed the letter to defund the police and has been sharing a lot of information on her Instagram about the pitfalls of policing as it has historically functioned.

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Nick Cannon - The star spoke about the movement to defund the police on his radio show, agreeing that those funds could be shifted back into the communities.

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America Ferrera -

The actress wrote on Instagram, "In my home city of Los Angeles, 54% of the city's budget goes to police! OVER HALF!!! I can't even find 'education resources' on the Mayor's budget pie! A healthy society is not built on policing! We need healthcare, education, jobs and social services!"

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JoJo - The singer shared a link to her Twitter further explaining defunding the police, and wrote, "We have an opening to create safety and security for all Americans. Not just rich, white ones. To reimagine how society functions. We need not fear change. Let's engage with it."

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Jane Fonda - The actress linked to the petition in a blog post on her website supporting the movement. 

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Tinashe -

The singer has repeatedly posted her support for defunding the police and she's been protesting in LA and sharing information with her millions of followers.

See also: African-American celebrities who are vocal about equality.

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