"Community organizers and activists are reimagining what public safety is and finding new ways to combat violence in their neighborhoods. They are protecting their neighborhoods without the criminalization of people of color and fear that the police create."
- Judith Hernandez, 11th Grade
Alternatives to the police are being created and shared through social media now more than ever as community members continue to witness acts of violence at the hands of the police. Social media has impacted the way social and political movements are built and grow because they make more information accessible and digestible. This time, it is helping bring attention to the ongoing fight to defund, and abolish the police by showing people what it means to create and reimagine new systems when our current ones don’t work.
Often, police officers are asked to respond to situations that they are not prepared for. According to NPR, “Since 2015, nearly a quarter of all people killed by police officers in America have had a known mental illness.” Despite being unqualified to properly respond to mental health calls, the police are often the first ones at the scene instead of mental health professionals. Not only does this put people in danger of being hurt or even killed, it also stigmatizes and criminalizes mental illness.
Additionally to not being properly trained to handle intense situations, officers are often motivated by racial biases and beliefs that are perpetrated by the history of the police that is rooted in racism and white supremacy. For example, in 2021, Black people were 28% of those killed by police despite being only 13% of the population. The police have continuously failed to help people in times of need and have done damage to countless communities. In response, many have taken matters into their own hands by creating resources, organizations, hotlines, and community centers that provide support that the police haven’t such as housing, access to healthy foods, and more. One example of this is the way community members in Oakland reacted to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.
When COVID-19 began to spread, many experienced and saw a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes rooted in racism, white supremacy, and xenophobia. According to a new study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State University San Bernardino, anti Asian hate crimes are up 164% this year. In Oakland, those living in Chinatown were threatened by racially motivated attacks. In reaction to this, many organizations were created to protect them. For example, Compassion in Oakland is a program created by Jacob Azevedo, a Bay Area local, that finds volunteers to chaperone elders in Oakland Chinatown. Azevedo’s goal was to protect his community from potential violence and provide them with a sense of safety which all began with an Instagram post that went viral.
Often, police officers are asked to respond to situations that they are not prepared for. According to NPR, “Since 2015, nearly a quarter of all people killed by police officers in America have had a known mental illness.” Despite being unqualified to properly respond to mental health calls, the police are often the first ones at the scene instead of mental health professionals. Not only does this put people in danger of being hurt or even killed, it also stigmatizes and criminalizes mental illness.
Additionally to not being properly trained to handle intense situations, officers are often motivated by racial biases and beliefs that are perpetrated by the history of the police that is rooted in racism and white supremacy. For example, in 2021, Black people were 28% of those killed by police despite being only 13% of the population. The police have continuously failed to help people in times of need and have done damage to countless communities. In response, many have taken matters into their own hands by creating resources, organizations, hotlines, and community centers that provide support that the police haven’t such as housing, access to healthy foods, and more. One example of this is the way community members in Oakland reacted to the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.
When COVID-19 began to spread, many experienced and saw a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes rooted in racism, white supremacy, and xenophobia. According to a new study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State University San Bernardino, anti Asian hate crimes are up 164% this year. In Oakland, those living in Chinatown were threatened by racially motivated attacks. In reaction to this, many organizations were created to protect them. For example, Compassion in Oakland is a program created by Jacob Azevedo, a Bay Area local, that finds volunteers to chaperone elders in Oakland Chinatown. Azevedo’s goal was to protect his community from potential violence and provide them with a sense of safety which all began with an Instagram post that went viral.
Community organizers and activists are reimagining what public safety is and finding new ways to combat violence in their neighborhoods. They are protecting their neighborhoods without the criminalization of people of color and fear that the police create. Because of this, these new resources that people are creating are important for everyone to have access to. Here are other resources that respond to Anti-Asian violence that don’t include the police:
STOPAAPIHate.org - responds to incidents of hate and harassment against Asian American Pacific Islanders.
Oakland Chinatown Coalition - Advocate for: public safety, access to jobs, affordable housing, community facilities/open space, small businesses, transportation, cultural preservation, and public health.
Additionally, more infographics began to spread on social media with alternatives to the police after the George Floyd trial. Although Derek Chauvin was found guilty, violent acts like the one against George Floyd will continue to happen, and they have, unless there is change in the way policing works. It is clear that no matter what law gets passed, whether it requires police to wear body cams or limits the weapons they can use, no change will happen as long as the police continue to have so much power over our communities because of the racism they allow to prosper. Here are other general alternatives to police:
Don’t Call the Police - An online directory of local resources available as alternatives to calling the police or 911.
Causa Justa - Information, referrals, and advocacy on behalf of tenants. English and Spanish. Can assist with unlawful detainers and evictions.
CUAV - Provides emotional support, safety planning, referrals, and limited case follow-up to LGBTQI people experiencing violence or abuse
Desi LGBTQ Helpline - Offers free, confidential, culturally sensitive peer support, information and resources for LGBTQ South Asian individuals, families and friends
ACCESS – a program of Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services. The system wide point of contact for information, screening and referrals for mental health and substance use services and treatment for Alameda County residents.
A Safe Place - counselors are always available on their 24-hour crisis line. They can connect you with crisis counseling, information about domestic violence, and referrals to agencies throughout the Bay Area.
Youth Crisis Hotline – 24/7 statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis with access to over 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families in crisis
So, what does this mean for the future of police? The fight for abolition is one that has been fought for many years so while this isn’t the start of the movement it does show the way it has grown and progressed. Abolition is not only about destroying or getting rid of a system, it’s about having the creativity and imagination to build new ones that allow everyone to receive the support they need and feel safe in their homes. This is what leaders and organizers are doing now.
STOPAAPIHate.org - responds to incidents of hate and harassment against Asian American Pacific Islanders.
Oakland Chinatown Coalition - Advocate for: public safety, access to jobs, affordable housing, community facilities/open space, small businesses, transportation, cultural preservation, and public health.
Additionally, more infographics began to spread on social media with alternatives to the police after the George Floyd trial. Although Derek Chauvin was found guilty, violent acts like the one against George Floyd will continue to happen, and they have, unless there is change in the way policing works. It is clear that no matter what law gets passed, whether it requires police to wear body cams or limits the weapons they can use, no change will happen as long as the police continue to have so much power over our communities because of the racism they allow to prosper. Here are other general alternatives to police:
Don’t Call the Police - An online directory of local resources available as alternatives to calling the police or 911.
Causa Justa - Information, referrals, and advocacy on behalf of tenants. English and Spanish. Can assist with unlawful detainers and evictions.
CUAV - Provides emotional support, safety planning, referrals, and limited case follow-up to LGBTQI people experiencing violence or abuse
Desi LGBTQ Helpline - Offers free, confidential, culturally sensitive peer support, information and resources for LGBTQ South Asian individuals, families and friends
ACCESS – a program of Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services. The system wide point of contact for information, screening and referrals for mental health and substance use services and treatment for Alameda County residents.
A Safe Place - counselors are always available on their 24-hour crisis line. They can connect you with crisis counseling, information about domestic violence, and referrals to agencies throughout the Bay Area.
Youth Crisis Hotline – 24/7 statewide emergency response system for youth (ages 12-24) and families in crisis with access to over 5,500 free or low-cost resources for youth and families in crisis
So, what does this mean for the future of police? The fight for abolition is one that has been fought for many years so while this isn’t the start of the movement it does show the way it has grown and progressed. Abolition is not only about destroying or getting rid of a system, it’s about having the creativity and imagination to build new ones that allow everyone to receive the support they need and feel safe in their homes. This is what leaders and organizers are doing now.