Content Warning: racism, violence, weapons, sexual assault, explicit language in some videos/links. Note: this is a lengthy post… sorry, not sorry.
Systemic racism has ravaged our country since its creation; America was built on it and continues to bask in it. It has taken lives and left them nameless and forgotten. More recently, though, some of those names are being heard and some of those faces are being seen.
Various calls to defund the police are ringing throughout social media and the news. And, candidly, I am for this. There are many functions that the police (as an institution) currently serve that would be better addressed by more specialized professionals. It is not realistic that (1) police training could be sufficiently expanded to provide proper education on managing such things, especially given that professionals in mental health and social work, for example, spend their entire careers learning and refining these skills nor that (2) many of those who self-select into the police force would be willing to work through such training and openly receive these lessons.
While I agree that redistributing funds from the police to more effective justice and safety measures is a critical step, I’m reminded of a quote in Bojack Horseman: “I can’t believe this country hates women more than it loves guns.” Let me explain.