What does defund the police mean?

'Defund the Police.” What does that mean? On May 30 the national organization of Black Lives Matter defined Defund the Police on their website this way: 'We call for a national defunding of police. We demand investment in our communities and the resources to ensure Black people not only survive, but thrive. If you're with us, add your name to the petition right now and help us spread the word.”

Nothing wrong with thriving; thriving is part of the American dream. But is thriving to be achieved through American capitalism? In a video from 2015, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors wasn't shy about her political views: 'The first thing, I think, is that we actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia in particular are trained organizers,” she said, referring to BLM co-founder Alicia Garza. 'We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories.”

In June of this year, Greater New York Black Lives Matter President Hawk Newsome said to Fox News host Martha MacCallum, 'I said, if this country doesn't give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it. All right? And I could be speaking figuratively. I could be speaking literally. It's a matter of interpretation.”

In June, the New York Post reported 'approximately 700 federal, state and local law enforcement officers have suffered injuries in clashes with demonstrators, according to Justice Department data.” /

How are Americans to interpret that?

Michael Mallie

Kalona