A World Without Police

1. Policing perpetuates systemic racism and inequality

"Police murder is a symptom of a much-deeper sickness."

Roots in slavery. Modern policing in America has its origins in slave patrols and the enforcement of racial segregation. This legacy continues today through disproportionate violence against communities of color and the poor. Police killings of Black Americans occur at 3 times the rate of white Americans, with even wider disparities in some cities.

Upholding the status quo. Rather than preventing crime or protecting communities, policing primarily serves to maintain existing power structures and economic inequality. Police enforce property laws, manage the poor, and suppress dissent - perpetuating a system that benefits the wealthy and white at the expense of marginalized groups.

Key functions of policing:

• Protecting private property
• Controlling "dangerous" populations
• Disciplining the workforce
• Enforcing racial segregation

2. Police reform efforts have repeatedly failed to address root issues

"Police reform is always a 'failure,' but the answer is always more reform."

History of failed reforms. For over a century, commissions and reform efforts have attempted to address police violence and corruption. Yet these have consistently failed to produce meaningful change, instead often expanding and legitimizing police power. From the 1894 Lexow Committee to Obama-era reform commissions, recommendations focus on superficial changes rather than addressing systemic issues.

Reform as window dressing. Popular reform proposals like body cameras, implicit bias training, and community policing have proven ineffective at reducing police violence or addressing root causes. These efforts often serve as public relations moves that allow police to appear responsive while maintaining the status quo. More fundamental changes are needed to truly transform policing and public safety.

Common ineffective reforms:

• Body cameras
• Diversity hiring
• Implicit bias training
• Community policing
• Civilian review boards

3. The "pig majority" extends beyond police to broader societal structures

"To challenge the police is to challenge the American people, and the problem with the police is not that they are fascist pigs but that we are majoritarian pigs."

Societal complicity. The problem of policing goes far beyond individual officers to encompass a broader "pig majority" that upholds systemic racism and inequality. This includes judges, juries, politicians, media, and everyday citizens who rationalize and enable police violence against marginalized groups.

Internalized oppression. Even some people of color in positions of power perpetuate the system, having internalized its logic. Black police officers and politicians have often supported or enacted harsh policies targeting their own communities. This demonstrates how deeply entrenched the ideology of policing is throughout society.

Components of the "pig majority":

• Politicians passing "tough on crime" laws
• Judges and juries failing to hold police accountable
• Media portraying victims of police violence as criminals
• Citizens calling police on people of color for existing in public spaces

4. Police unions are a major obstacle to accountability and change

"Police associations aren't like other unions; in reality, they aren't unions at all."

Protecting impunity. Police unions, more accurately described as associations, have become extremely powerful in shielding officers from accountability. They negotiate contracts that make it nearly impossible to fire or discipline officers, even for severe misconduct. These associations lobby aggressively against reforms and civilian oversight.

Political influence. Police unions wield significant political power, often intimidating elected officials who attempt to enact reforms. They have pushed for special legal protections like Law Enforcement Officers' Bills of Rights in many states. Breaking the power of police unions is crucial for any meaningful change to occur in policing.

How police unions obstruct accountability:

• Negotiating contracts that limit investigations of misconduct
• Lobbying against civilian oversight
• Intimidating politicians who propose reforms
• Defending and reinstating officers fired for brutality

5. Alternatives to policing already exist in many communities

"A world without police would be a world without poverty and hunger, in which everyone would have enough, and no one would need to look over their shoulder."

Community-based solutions. Many communities, especially those most impacted by over-policing, have developed alternatives for addressing conflicts and crises without relying on armed officers. These range from violence interruption programs to mental health crisis response teams to restorative justice practices.

Proven effectiveness. Programs like CAHOOTS in Eugene, Oregon have demonstrated that trained civilian responders can successfully handle many situations typically addressed by police, at a fraction of the cost. Other initiatives focus on addressing root causes of harm through community investment and support services.

Examples of policing alternatives:

• Crisis response teams for mental health emergencies
• Violence interruption programs in high-crime areas
• Restorative justice circles to address conflicts
• Community mediation services
• Mutual aid networks providing material support

6. Global examples show possibilities for community-led safety

"Abolition democracy points not only to the failures of Reconstruction, however, but to its radically transformative potential as well."

International models. Communities around the world have developed alternatives to state policing, often in response to repression or government neglect. From the Zapatistas in Mexico to township committees in apartheid South Africa, these examples demonstrate the potential for collective self-governance and safety.

Lessons for the US. While contexts differ, these international experiences offer valuable insights for reimagining public safety in America. They show how communities can come together to address conflicts, meet basic needs, and protect themselves without relying on a repressive state apparatus.

Key lessons from global examples:

• Community participation in decision-making
• Focus on prevention and root causes
• Integration of safety with other community needs
• Emphasis on restorative rather than punitive approaches

7. Abolition requires reimagining safety and justice from the ground up

"Abolition is about laying a new foundation under, around, and in the cracks of the old world until the old foundation is no more."

Beyond reform. Police abolition is not about tweaking the current system, but fundamentally rethinking how we approach safety, harm, and justice in society. This requires addressing root causes of crime and violence like poverty, lack of opportunity, and unmet mental health needs.

Building alternatives. Abolition is a constructive project focused on creating new institutions and ways of relating that make police unnecessary. This includes developing robust social services, community-based conflict resolution, and transformative justice practices that address harm without relying on punishment and cages.

Key components of abolition:

• Investing in education, housing, healthcare, and economic opportunity
• Creating non-punitive responses to harm and conflict
• Developing community-based crisis response systems
• Fostering strong social bonds and mutual aid networks

8. Immigration enforcement and border policing are extensions of systemic oppression

"The border doesn't solve any problems; it is the problem to be solved, and the solution is abolition."

Criminalizing migration. Like domestic policing, immigration enforcement and border control serve to maintain racial and economic hierarchies. Policies like Operation Gatekeeper have led to thousands of migrant deaths while doing little to address root causes of migration.

Abolishing ICE and borders. True justice for immigrants requires not just reforming ICE or border policies, but reimagining migration and citizenship entirely. This means addressing global inequalities that drive migration and rejecting the notion that national borders should determine human worth and rights.

Harms of current immigration enforcement:

• Thousands of deaths in border deserts
• Family separations
• Mass incarceration in detention centers
• Creation of vulnerable underclass of undocumented workers

9. Building strong communities is key to making police obsolete

"The best antidote to the police, and to the violence that they don't prevent—because it justifies their existence—is community."

Community empowerment. The most effective way to reduce reliance on police is to build strong, resilient communities capable of meeting their own needs and addressing conflicts. This requires investing in social infrastructure, fostering connections between neighbors, and developing collective problem-solving skills.

Practical steps. Making police obsolete starts with small actions like checking on neighbors, organizing mutual aid networks, and learning de-escalation techniques. As communities become more connected and empowered, they naturally become less reliant on outside intervention to maintain safety and resolve conflicts.

Ways to build community alternatives to policing:

• Establish neighborhood watch groups focused on de-escalation
• Create local rapid response networks for emergencies
• Develop community mediation programs
• Organize mutual aid to meet basic needs
• Host regular community gatherings and forums

Last updated: September 29, 2024