Written Testimony for the MPD Budget Oversight Hearing

Tell the Judiciary Committee to Defund the MPD and Refund Our Communities!

On June 10th, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, which oversees the budget for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), will hold a Budget Oversight Hearing to give members of the public the opportunity to comment on MPD’s spending in 2020-2021. This is an integral part of setting the budget for next year (2022), and participation in this process is one of the best opportunities for DC residents to speak directly to the Council about things that matter to us.

At this hearing, we will tell the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety that we do not approve of how much funding is allocated to MPD because MPD spends its money to murder DC residents, terrorize communities, and act recklessly in our neighborhoods. It’s also a chance to tell the Committee that we would rather see funds invested in communities through social services, housing, and reparations.

Councilmember staff record all submissions of written testimony. It helps to have high turnout for testimony of all kinds around budget season. In FY21 hearings, over 16,000 people testified in support of defunding MPD -- the Council notices this and Councilmembers will be emboldened to push for defunding MPD if they know citizens support it.

Please send a letter to the Committee to urge them to lead boldly by defunding the MPD and reinvesting in our communities!