Should We Abolish The Police?

Since the protests decrying the murder of George Floyd began in May, the institution of American policing has taken center stage. Activists are calling for change, and the phrase “defund the police” can be heard in cities across the country. As the concept of slashing police budgets and reinvesting those resources into Black and Brown communities goes increasingly mainstream, a more radical call is also gaining attention: Abolish the Police. Joining us to talk abolition, divestment, and what a world without police might look like are attorney, author, researcher, and organizer Andrea Ritchie, and senior staff attorney for the ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice, Carl Takei.