Resources

A group of Black-led organizations, Black individual activists and protest organizers came together to compile the proposals generated in the Urban League’s “State of Black Oregon, ”the Portland African American Leadership Forum’s “People’s Plan,” Coalition of Communities of Color’s publications “Communities of Color in Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile” and “Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County,” as well as new policy demands from nightly protest organizers and organizations like Unite Oregon and PAALF Action Fund’s “Defund. Reinvest. Protect” policy platform, and Washington County Ignite’s “Reimagine” effort. They then asked elected leaders from federal, state, regional, county, and city governments one simple question, “What timeline do you commit to finally get this stuff done and who, in your jurisdiction, will lead it to the finish line?”

Alex Vitale offers ten ways to make communities safer for everyone. The following concrete steps present a way forward, one that would begin to reduce reliance on policing.

This resource is a reallocated version of the proposed NYC FY21 budget created by a broad-ranging group of abolitionists, including organizers, lawyers, mothers, artists, and lifetime New Yorkers, of many ages, ethnicities, abilities, and religions, who care about this city.

Although this document and these suggestions focus on the budget under the purview of the New York City Council and Mayor, there are many state-based policies, such as pre-trial detention, subway policing, and supervision, that must be changed simultaneously.

During this time of rebellion against police terrorism and state violence, the Black Philly Radical Collective (a group of 12 organizations including Black Lives Matter Philly and Philly for Real Justice) has listed immediately actionable demands for the City of Philadelphia.

A joint letter to Mayor de Blasio from more than 50 advocacy organizations urging him to impose an immediate moratorium on police enforcement of low-level and quality of life offenses; unnecessary summonses and arrests, including fare evasion arrests and drug arrests for marijuana.

This white paper notes the novel law enforcement challenges created by COVID-19 and describes the different approach police must take. Traditional law enforcement practices such as stops, searches, and arrests currently create a substantial risk of infection for police, suspects and community members alike. This paper concludes that until stay-at-home and social distancing orders have been lifted, law enforcement agencies should suspend enforcement measures requiring close proximity or physical contact between law enforcement personnel and members of the public, except in cases where the failure to stop, search, or arrest a suspect creates an imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury to police officers or others.

As we work toward dismantling unjust systems, there is opportunity to highlight the intersections of our efforts and identify shared goals. This resource includes a chart of related demands across criminal and immigration issues aimed at reducing the number of people that enter, and releasing as many people as possible from jails and prisons, and detention centers. This is not a complete list, but rather a starting point for us all to consider our demands more broadly.

Noting an increase in discriminatory policing practices during COVID-19, The Leadership Conference Education Fund released principles that provide actionable recommendations for law enforcement agencies across the country to better protect the health and safety of communities and officers during the pandemic and beyond.

Durham Beyond Policing Coalition developed this proposal because the draft budget for the City of Durham for 2019-20 contained a request from the DPD for 72 additional full time (FTE) officers over three years, with the first year’s cost given as $1,729,573 for an initial 25 new officers. After considerable study, we have found the rationale for DPD’s budget request is incomplete and outdated, and we object to the premise that more officers will make the people of Durham safer. This proposal offers what we feel is a more holistic approach to some of the same issues and opportunities.