Join this call to learn more and help local Cleveland activists working to defund police as we organize against Operation Relentless Pursuit, an upcoming federal police funding initiative.

Our Speaker lineup:

• LaTonya Goldsby and Kareem Henton from Black Lives Matter Cleveland

• Yvonka Hall, Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition

• Chrissy Stonebreaker-Martinez, InterReligious Task Force on Central America

• Eileen McCully, Resist ORP Cleveland

• David Lima, Resist ORP Cleveland

Operation Relentless Pursuit is an initiative funded by the Department of Justice using a grant-making program to support community policing authorized by the 1994 crime bill The DOJ has granted ORP funds to seven US cities:

Albuquerque, Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, and Milwaukee.

The program commits to spending up to $71 million in those cities. Cleveland will receive $10 million, with the majority earmarked for 30 new hires in the Police Department and smaller amounts going to the Adult Parole Authority and Ohio State Highway Patrol. .An additional $10 million for “mission-critical equipment and technology” and staffing at the prosecutor’s office was granted by the Dept. of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance.